The Art and Life of Henry Scott Tuke

Course Introduction

The Art and Life of Henry Scott Tuke RA (1858 – 1929)

Henry Scott Tuke was one of Falmouth’s most famous painters. He was at the forefront of British figurative painting of the late Victorian and early Edwardian era. He specialised in maritime paintings, figure compositions – clothed and nude as well as portraiture.

He became a Royal Academician and a member of the Royal Watercolour Society where he exhibited over 250 works. His work was bought by major collectors and municipal museums all over the world from the Tate in London to  Sydney in Australia and Munich in Germany. Tuke also put the Cornish coastal town of Falmouth on the art world map in the same way Stanhope Forbes and Walter Langley as well as others did for Newlyn.

In this 7 week course we look at the life and work of this important British artist. From his formative years in Falmouth, his training and early travels; through to his fame he achieved as a member of the Newlyn School; the inspiration of Cornwall and its people, his approach to portraiture whether it was locals or lords and ladies; his maritime art; his approach to painting the nude outdoors and comparing it was his contemporaries both in the UK and in America; his travels abroad and at home. 

One of his greatest contemporary collectors is Sir Elton John and his collection of Tuke’s work features in this course. Catherine also spent 4 years working on the restoration and cataloguing the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society’s Tuke collection now housed at Falmouth Art Gallery which also features in the course.

Other artists featured in this course include:

A list of artists included in each lecture and a Further Reading list will be sent via email with the links to each lecture on Zoom or to watch on Youtube once recorded.

This course consists of 7 x 1 hour lectures.

Available on YouTube

The Lectures