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A China Clay Pit, Leswidden, Harold Harvey (1874-1941)
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A China Clay Pit, Leswidden, Harold Harvey (1874-1941)
Oil on canvas, Newlyn School, 1920 or 1924. This painting shows the harsh, labour-intensive working conditions of a china clay pit. Leswidden China Clay Works, near St Just, was a more primitive works than the larger, more mechanised works in the St Austell area. The pit was closed before 1942. Harold Harvey was one of the few successful artists of the period who was born and raised in Cornwall. He grew up surrounded by the industry he would later paint and counted many of the working people he depicted as friends. He originally studied under Norman Garstin, but also visited Paris as a young man where he was greatly influenced by the Post-Impressionist movement. His earlier work was very much influenced by Stanhope Forbes, though it changed as he grew older, his brushwork becoming less thick and his forms more simple. Some of his later work shows a period stylisation but without the Picasso influences of his contemporaries Ernest and Dod Procter. Harvey continued to work right up to his death in 1941
Royal Cornwall Museum is the UK's Greatest Museum For Cornish Life & Culture
TRURI : 2000.24
Media ID 18852227
© RIC
Artist Artwork Blue British Brown Chimney Cornwall English Green Grey Industrial Industry Labour Mineral Rail Smoke Tramway White Workers Yellow Haulage Manual Pulley Rails Spoil Heap
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases Harold Harvey's masterpiece, "A China Clay Pit, Leswidden" painted in the early 1920s. The artwork provides a poignant glimpse into the arduous and labor-intensive working conditions of a china clay pit during that era. Located near St Just, Leswidden China Clay Works was known for its primitive methods compared to the more mechanized works in St Austell. Harvey, a Cornwall native himself, grew up amidst the very industry he would later immortalize on canvas. His deep connection with the local community allowed him to capture not only their physical toil but also their spirit and resilience. Having studied under Norman Garstin and being influenced by Post-Impressionism during his time in Paris, Harvey's earlier work reflected Stanhope Forbes' style before evolving over time. Although some of his later pieces displayed elements of stylization, they remained distinct from Picasso's influence which prevailed among his contemporaries Ernest and Dod Procter. Notably successful as an artist during this period, Harvey maintained strong friendships with many of the working people he depicted. Continuing to paint until his untimely death in 1941, Harvey left behind a remarkable legacy that vividly portrays Cornwall's industrial heritage through art. This particular painting serves as a testament to both his artistic prowess and unwavering dedication to capturing authentic moments from everyday life without any commercial intent or association with any company.
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