Penzance School of Art

Penzance School of Art
LocationMorrab Road, Penzance, Cornwall, England
Coordinates50°07′02″N 5°32′23″W / 50.117169°N 5.539817°W / 50.117169; -5.539817
Built1881
ArchitectSilvanus Trevail
Listed Building – Grade II
Official namePenzance School of Art and Library
Designated5 September 2017
Reference no.1447144
Penzance School of Art is located in Cornwall
Penzance School of Art
Location of Penzance School of Art in Cornwall

Penzance School of Art is an art school in Penzance, Cornwall, England, housed in a purpose-built Grade II listed building opened in 1881.[1]

History and description

The building, designed by Silvanus Trevail, was erected in 1880–81 and opened on 7 March 1881. It was the first permanent home of the Penzance School of Art, founded in 1853 by Henry Geoffroi. The building was financed by the gift of land and other donations.[1][2]

During the late 1880s there was remodelling of the façade, and a museum and science school were added, all designed by Henry White FRIBA, a former student. The building is constructed of dressed granite, with roofs of Cornish slate. The front of the building facing Morrab Street is in English Revival style.[1]

In its early years, exhibitions were held at the museum of works by artists of the Newlyn School, such as Stanhope Forbes and Walter Langley. After the Newlyn Art Gallery was constructed in 1894, the museum was less often used as a venue for exhibitions, and it became a library, run by the Borough Council.[1]

Visiting lecturers have included Lamorna Birch, Barbara Hepworth and Graham Sutherland; a pottery school was established by Bernard Leach.[1][3] Past students include Peter Lanyon, Robin Welch,[3] Jack Pender[4] and Jonathon Coudrille.[5] The Australian sculptor, Barbara Tribe taught there for 40 years until 1988.[6][7]

The school was run from 1984 by Cornwall County Council, and since 1989 by Penwith College; the library closed in 2016.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Historic England. "Penzance School of Art and Library (1447144)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Penzance School of Art" lifedrawing.me. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Penzance School of Art" BBC, 29 September 2003. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Jack Pender" Arnolfini. Version of 23 September 2015 retrieved via Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ "Surrealism on the edge" Cornwall Today. Version of 16 July 2011 retrieved via Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ West, Rosamund Lily (13 June 2019). "Uncovering the life and work of forgotten women sculptors". Museum Crush. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  7. ^ "Barbara TRIBE | Cornwall Artists Index". cornwallartists.org. Retrieved 2024-09-12.

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