Oil painting of St Ives by Godwin Bennett

A fine oil on canvas of the wonderful subject of St Ives including the Sloop Inn, by Godwin Bennett (1888-1960). The painting shows a busy harbourside with lots going on, boats pulled onto the sand, washing drying on the beach, I particularly like the milkman delivering. The technique used is very interesting with thick impasto paint to give depth to buildings and thinner paint used to create the hazy sky and distant landscape, it is a very skilfully created piece. Godwin Bennett was an art dealer and self-taught artist; born in Brighton he lived mostly in Croydon. He was a commercial artist painting scenes of towns in the West Country and Southern England and spent a lot of time in Cornwall so it is not surprising he painted the great artist community of St Ives. He exhibited at the Royal Academy towards the end of his career in the 1950’s and worked extensively for postcard producers particularly Salmons. The painting is in excellent untouched condition and signed to the lower right. The frame is the original and has a great worn gilt finish, it retains the remains of the gallery label on the reverse. The whole is in excellent ready to hang condition. The painting is a very desirable subject of a good size, by a very popular and capable artist. C.1950.
Overall sizes in inches, including frame: 33 ½ by 25 ½