Summer, St. Ives, 1913

Richard Hayley Lever, RBA (1875 – 1958)

Oil on canvas. Signed and dated.

18” x 24” (45.7 cm x 61 cm)

Provenance: Jordan Volpe Gallery,

New York and private collection.

An important work by this prominent figure in the history of St. Ives art. Lever spent 15 years in Cornwall and established an international reputation for his marine and harbour paintings. Highly innovative, he experimented in a variety of styles and was particularly inspired by Van Gogh’s use of bold colour and strong brushwork. From 1912, Lever made several visits to the United States and eventually emigrated there in 1914. His success in New York was instant and his scenes of St. Ives, which he continued to paint, proved hugely popular among American collectors.