Born in Birmingham, Walter Langley is known as the pioneer of the 'Newlyn School', as he was the first of the Newlyn School artists to settle in the village, setting up his studio in 1882. Like many of his fellow Newlyn artists, he spent time in Brittany and Holland before settling in Cornwall.
Although Langley was an accomplished painter in oils, he mainly painted in watercolour, often on a large scale. Using this demanding and difficult medium, he portrayed scenes of everyday life in a small fishing village, highlighting the hardships and tragedies that were commonplace during that period.
We are thrilled that the exhibition will showcase a large oil painting from 1897 titled In Faith and Hope the World Will Disagree but All Mankind’s Concern is Charity. The work hasn’t been displayed publicly in the UK for more than 30 years and is travelling all the way from Texas for the show. The exhibition will also feature Langley’s monumental oil painting of 1896, Breadwinners. Recently restored, the work will be shown alongside Penlee House’s watercolour version for the very first time.
The exhibition is being staged to commemorate the centenary of Langley's death.