Eleanor Mary Hughes. 1882-1959.
Eleanor Hughes is best known as a leading painter of the Newlyn School of artists. She has remained largely unknown as an etcher until the recent discovery of her estate. Born in New Zeland to Cornish parents, she came to England to study in London. In 1907, she became a pupil of Stanhope and Elizabeth Forbes at Newlyn, Cornwell. In 1910 she married a fellow Newlyn painter, Robert Hughes, and they settled at Lamorna. In 1912, they designed and built a house at Chyangweal near St.Buryan, where they were to spend the rest of their lives. Eleanor owned a studio in the Lamorna Valley, about a mile from the house. There she worked and kept her etchings.
In 1911 she began to exhibit at the Royal Academy and later at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours. In 1933 she was elected to full membership of the R.I. By the time World War II broke out, she had exhibited 34 works at the Royal Institute, 37 at the Royal Academy, 7 at the New English Art Club, 9 at the Glasgow Institute, 6 at the Walker Gallery, as well as at other locations. In addition, she was an active organizer of the Newlyn and St. Ives exhibitions. In 1940 she sold her studio and few paintings were completed after that. She is to be the subject of a major biography and a large retrospective exhibition in her native country of New Zeland.
The subjects of her etchings are typically trees, the houses and villages around the area where she lived. These studies of the landscape and seasons of the West Country show solidly built stone farm houses and tall Cornish elms. She also etched several plates abroad.
Etchings
All of these etchings are from the artist's personal collection, which was inherited by her neice, Judith Hughes.
Click on the images for larger screens. The larger pictures are hyperlinked.
France
Aiguille de Varennes (small plate). Etching. First state of two. 8 7/8 x 5 7/8 (sheet 12 3/4 x 9 7/8). A fine impression on cream-colored paper watermarked Arches France, on the full sheet with deckle edges. Stamped signature. $125.
Aiguille de Varennes (small plate). Etching. Second state of two. 8 7/8 x 5 7/8 (sheet 14 5/8 x 9 5/8). Additional work to the mountain and the village. A fine impression on the full sheet of cream-colored laid paper watermarked "hand made". Signed in pencil.$225.
England
Cottage. Etching. 3 1/2 x 4 3/16 (sheet 4 7/8 x 6 1/16). Printed on the full sheet of cream-colored wove paper. Stamped signature. $175.
Cottage -- Front. Etching. 3 5/8 x 3 3/8 (sheet 5 1/16 x 5 1/8). Printed on cream-colored laid paper with a partial watermark. A fine impression. Stamped signature. $150.
Farm with Birds. Etching. 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 (sheet 7 3/4 x 10 3/16). Printed on the full sheet of pale cream-colored laid. A rich impression in excellent condition. Stamped signature. $250.
Farmhouse. Etching and drypoint. 9 3/4 x 10 3/8 (sheet 11 5/8 x 14 1/8). Printed on the full sheet of pale cream-colored wove paper. A rich impression in excellent condition, apart from pale staining in the top right-hand corner, well outside the image. Stamped signature. $450.
Farmhouse with Fields. Etching. 1 11/16x 2 3/4 (sheet 7 3/4 x 6 1/8). Printed on the full sheet of pale cream-colored wove paper with deckle edges. A rich impression in excellent condition. Stamped signature. $150.
Four Sycamores. Etching. Second state. 5 15/16 x 3 11/16 (sheet 8 1/2 x 8 9/16). A rich impression on cream-colored wove paper with deckle edges on two sides. Stamped signature. $250.
The Mill. Etching. 2 5/8 x 3 7/16 (sheet 9 1/4 x 6 7/8). Printed on the full sheet of pale cream-colored wove paper with deckle edges. A rich impression in excellent condition apart from 2 holes from a hold punch in the top margin, well outside the image. Stamped signature. $150.
Quarry. Etching and drypoint. 6 3/4 x 7 3/4 (sheet 9 1/8 x 12 1/2). Printed on the full sheet of pale cream-colored laid paper with an "F.G. Head & Co." watermark. A rich impression in excellent condition, on the full sheet with deckle edges. Stamped signature. $325.
Sycamore and Rooftops. Etching. 7 7/8 x 5 3/4 (sheet 12 5/8 x 9 1/16). A rich impression on "England" watermarked pale cream-colored laid paper. Printed on the full sheet with deckle edges. Stamped signature. $300.
Watercolours.
Mountain Scene with Bridge. Watercolor. 10 5/8 x 14 1/2. Signed, lower right. Five unobtrusive pinholes. $650.
Mountain Scene with Distant Lake. Watercolor. 10 5/8 x 14 1/2. Signed, lower right. Two unobtrusive pinholes. $650.
St. Michael's Mount. Watercolor. 11 x 15 1/4. Impressed studio stamp, lower left. An evocative tonal study. Good condition, apart from a few foxing spots. $500.
Sycamores. Lamorna Valley (Lamorna Valley, near Penzance, Cornwall). Watercolor. 14 1/2 x 10. Signed, lower right. $750.
Woodland Scene with Distant Hills. Watercolor. 14 1/2 x 10 5/8. Signed, lower left. Four unobtrusive pinholes. $650.
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