Algernon Mayow Talmage (23 February 1871– 14 September 1939) was a British

Impressionist Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...

painter.

Life and Education

Algernon Talmage was born in Fifield, Oxfordshire, the son of Rev. John Mayow Talmage, a clergyman of Cornish stock. During his childhood, Talmage got into an accident with a gun, permanently injuring his right hand; as a result Talmage painted with his left hand and was exempt from active service in the First World War. In 1892, Talmage studied under Hubert von Herkomer at the Herkomer School of art in Bushey. During his time at Herkomer, Talmage painted alongside Lucy Kemp-Welch, both of whom had a great interest in painting landscapes and horses. From there he moved to

St Ives, Cornwall St Ives ( kw, Porth Ia, meaning "Ia of Cornwall, St Ia's cove") is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commerci ...

, where he joined the St Ives School. During his time in Cornwall Talmage founded an artists' club which was greatly influenced by the Cornish coastline. Talmage's time in Cornwall was significant in establishing his characteristic mellow palette and enchanting use of light. Talmage is best known for tutoring Emily Carr during her studies at St Ives when he lived and worked in his studio which was then called 'The Cabin' located on Westcotts Quay, St Ives. His criticism was a significant early influence on her work, encouraging her earliest forays into the forest paintings that would eventually become her trademark. Carr's vivid palette grew from his critical reminder that "there is sunlight in the shadows." The well-known Australian painter Will Ashton was another of his students. In 1896, Talmage married Cornish artist Gertrude Rowe and together they had two daughters, Archie and Dorothy. In 1900 Talmage and fellow St Ives School artist Albert Julius Olsson established the Cornish School of Landscape, Figure and Sea Painting. Later, Talmage and Gertrude ran their own art school, with Olsson acting as a 'visiting' artist. Talmage separated from Gertrude in 1907, and moved to Chelsea, London with his former-pupil

Hilda Fearon Hilda Fearon (1878–1917) was a British artist of the St Ives School. Life and education Hilda Fearon was born in 1878 in Banstead, Surrey, the third daughter of Paul Bradshaw Fearon, a wine and spirits merchant, and his wife Edith Jane Duffi ...

Work and Exhibitions

Throughout his career as an artist, Talmage worked with the mediums of landscape, portrait and animal painting, printing and etching. He held his first solo exhibition in the Goupil Gallery, London, 1909. Talmage is also well known for creating the painting 'The Founding of Australia', which was commissioned by the founder of the Australasian Pioneers Club to celebrate the sesquicentennial of 1938. The finished painting was unveiled at the Royal Academy of the Arts exhibition in London in 1937. CC-BY icon

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The painting depicts the moment Governor Phillip (in the centre of the painting) proposed a toast to King George III, on the evening of 26 January 1788, the day that the Fleet moved from Botany Bay to

Sydney Cove Sydney Cove (Eora: ) is a bay on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, one of several harbours in Port Jackson, on the coast of Sydney, New South Wales. Sydney Cove is a focal point for community celebrations, due to its central Sydney locatio ...

. The painting is a celebration of righteousness and importance of colonisation, and a statement of the power of the British Empire. He was elected a member of the

Royal Society of British Artists The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy. History The RBA commenced with twenty-seven members, and took until 1876 to reach fif ...

in October 1902. He was a war artist on the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

in France (below). File:Algernon Talmage-CONVALESCENTS (CWM 19710261-0701).jpeg, Convalescents File:Algernon Talmage-CAMP AT AGNY (CWM 19710261-0693).jpeg, Camp at Agny File:Algernon Talmage-A Mobile Veterinary Unit in France (CWM 19710261-0699).jpeg, A Mobile Veterinary Unit in France File:Algernon Talmage-AT AN EVACUATING STATION (CWM 19710261-0704).jpeg, At an Evacuating Station File:Algernon Talmage-The Sulphur Dip for Mange (CWM 19710261-0692).jpeg, The Sulphur Dip for Mange File:Algernon Talmage-A Mobile Veterinary Unit in France (CWM 19710261-0596).jpeg, A Mobile Veterinary Unit in France File:Algernon Mayow Talmage-Estación de Cannon Street.jpg, Cannon Street Station

References

External links

*
Profile on Royal Academy of Arts Collections
{{DEFAULTSORT:Talmage, Algernon 1871 births 1939 deaths British Impressionist painters St Ives artists Royal Academicians Members of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters