Harold Harvey (British painter) 1874 - 1941
Harold Harvey grew up in Penzance in the 1870s and 1980s, just as the Cornish coast was becoming a haven for artists who drew their inspiration from the simple rural lifestyle, the unspoilt raw subject matter and the remarkable quality of light. He is unusual in that he is the only artist associated with the Newlyn School who was actually born in the area, going on to study painting under Norman Garstin before travelling to Paris in the 1890s to study at the Atelier Julian. After completing his studies, Harvey returned to Penzance where he married Gertrude Bodinnar, afterwards moving to the coastal village of Newlyn from where he exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Leicester Galleries throughout his lifetime. Harvey’s oeuvre includes paintings of figures in landscapes, portraits and interior scenes. His early style is reminiscent of the Newlyn Artists, with a concentration on rural subjects, particular the local fishermen, painted where possible in the open air with a restricted palette to emphasise the earthy rustic ideal. By 1908-1910, Harvey began to develop his own unique pictorial language characterised by a brighter palette and more simplified forms. Source: Sotheby's * * * Gertrude Harvey (British painter) 1879 - 1966 The daughter of John Mathews Bodinnar, a cooper, and Ann Crews Bodinnar (nee Curnow), Gertrude was the eighth of ten children and was Cornish-born. Her first contact with art was as a model that included posing for her future husband Harold HARVEY, and the experience fascinated her. She made notes of how the painters worked, and she discovered in herself a talent for art and design. She and Harold later married in about 1911. Gertrude used mostly oil on canvas, board, card or paper, but also tempera, gouache and sketches (sold at NAG), and also enjoyed needlework and clothing design. In the 1920s and 30s she exhibited her work at various galleries in London, including the RA and the Leicester Galleries. Often she showed work together with her husband in mixed and group shows. Her style has been likened to Alethea GARSTIN's. Prior to her marriage she lived at Pembroke Cottage, Newlyn (1879-81), and by the 1891 Census she was at 49 Trewarveth Street, Newlyn. After her marriage she and her husband moved to Maen Cottage, Elms Close Terrace, Newlyn and she stayed there after his death (in 1941) until 1960 when she moved to the Benoni Nursing Home in St Just.
