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Image Licensing : The Clay Pit, Harold Harvey (1874-1941)
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The Clay Pit, Harold Harvey (1874-1941)
Oil on canvas, Newlyn School, 1923. View of Leswidden China Clay Works near St Just. This painting shows the harsh, labour-intensive working conditions of a china clay pit. Leswidden China Clay Works, near St Just, was a more primitive works than the larger, more mechanised works in the St Austell area. The pit was closed before 1942. Harold Harvey was one of the few successful artists of the period who was born and raised in Cornwall. He grew up surrounded by the industry he would later paint and counted many of the working people he depicted as friends. He originally studied under Norman Garstin, but also visited Paris as a young man where he was greatly influenced by the Post-Impressionist movement. His earlier work was very much influenced by Stanhope Forbes, though it changed as he grew older, his brushwork becoming less thick and his forms more simple. Some of his later work shows a period stylisation but without the Picasso influences of his contemporaries Ernest and Dod Procter. Harvey continued to work right up to his death in 1941. Royal Cornwall Museum is the UK's Greatest Museum For Cornish Life & Culture. © RIC
TRURI : 1995.29
Media ID 18852225
Filename: TRURI-1995-29.tiff
Size: 3101 x 2565 (2.8MB)
Date: 5th April 2019
Source: Royal Cornwall Museum
Artist Artwork Blue Boots British Brown Chimney Cornwall English Green Grey Industrial Industry Labour Mineral Rail Smoke Track Tramway Wagon White Workers Yellow Haul Haulage Labourer Manual Push Pushing Rails Spoil Heap
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases "The Clay Pit" by Harold Harvey, an esteemed artist of the Newlyn School. Painted in 1923, this oil on canvas piece provides a glimpse into the arduous working conditions at Leswidden China Clay Works near St Just. Unlike its more advanced counterparts in St Austell, this clay pit operated with primitive methods and was eventually closed before 1942. Harvey's deep connection to Cornwall is evident in his work as he was born and raised amidst the very industry he depicted. He had personal relationships with many of the laborers portrayed in his paintings, adding an authentic touch to his artistry. Initially mentored by Norman Garstin, Harvey's visit to Paris during his youth greatly influenced him through exposure to the Post-Impressionist movement. Throughout his career, Harvey's style evolved from being heavily influenced by Stanhope Forbes to adopting simpler forms and lighter brushwork as he aged. While some of his later works exhibit period stylization, they lack the Picasso influences seen in contemporaries such as Ernest and Dod Procter. Despite facing challenges throughout life, including financial difficulties and health issues, Harvey remained dedicated to his craft until passing away in 1941. This remarkable painting serves as a testament not only to Harvey's talent but also sheds light on the demanding nature of clay mining during that era.
