Henry Scott Tuke: Three Major Exhibitions
Homage to the homoerotic painter Henry Scott Tuke, icon of gay culture, in Great-Britain. Sir Elton John loans works for the exhibitions.
For this third article (one is in French language) devoted to Henry Scott Tuke (1858-1929), now considered a “Giant” British painter, I take you to Great-Britain where two exhibitions took place and one is being held until August 28, 2008 at the London Fine Art Society . The two exhibitions that just ended, were at the Falmouth Art Gallery and at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro, Cornwall.
The homoerotic “Painter of Youth” painted most of his works in Cornwall where he lived in “Pennance Cottage” in Swannpool, Falmouth. He had installed a floating studio called “The Julie of Nantes” where he could be at ease and away from any indiscreetness to paint boys swimming, diving, fishing or lounging under the big blue sky in a Mediterranean atmosphere. His paintings glorify male friendship and camaraderie in an idealized vision of freshness, innocence and natural spontaneity. They are never over-polished and so realist. His works are a real Fountain of Youth, uplifting energies and giving a particularly positive, respectful and harmonious image of homosexuality. The exhibition in Truro, Cornwall :”Catching the Light : The Art and Life of Henry Scott Tuke” is a true homage to this British impressionist full of genius and so criticized by the Victorian and Edwardian societies. He, however, was a member of the Royal Academy.
The artist, Sir Elton John, who has a considerable collection of Tuke’s works loaned 11 paintings for this exhibition of a total of 130.
Henry Scott Tuke wrote a “Sonnet to Youth” :
“Youth standing sweet, triumphant by the sea,
All freshness of the day
And all the light
Of morn of thy white limbs, firm, bared and bright”.
“Aquamarine” 1928-29.
“July Sun”, 1913
“The Sun Lovers”, 1922.
“The Bathing Group”, 1911.
“Boys bathing on rocks”, 1921.
“Morning Spendour”, 1921.
“Youth on Beach”, 1920.
“Two Boys on a Beach” (A Study in Bright Sunlight), 1909.
“Charlie Mitchell”.
Photo of painter Henry Scott Tuke.
“Nude on the rocks” 1917 ca.
“Boys Bathing”, 1917.
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On the subject, please check out also my related article: “Male Nude in painting: Henry Scott Tuke” on this site. Thank you.
Beautifully written article. I can see why Henry was so inspired when he was in Cornwall, the place is so beautiful and romantic, with its seas and beaches and rolling countryside.
He has captured the innocence of youth so perfectly in all these paintings. There is such a laid back atmosphere, it made me content and sleepy to look at them. I think my favourite of these is ‘Morning splendour’ with its rich warm colours and the natural way in which the bodies are all intent on their mission.
Thank you for sharing xxx
