Norman Garstin 1847 - 1926
Irish artist, Norman Garstin was born in County Limerick in 1847. At a young age, due to ill health he was sent to live on the Channel Islands, but returned to Ireland frequently on holidays, where he spent his time hunting and painting. His family encouraged him to enter professional life, and he first studied engineering in Cork, before moving to London, where he studied architecture.
Seeking his fortune, he moved to Kimberley, in South Africa, for two years, where he spent his time mining for diamonds. He then entered the newspaper business, founding the Cape Times newspaper with Cecil Rhodes. On returning to Ireland, he was blinded in one eye in a riding accident. Ironically it was then that he decided to become a full-time artist.
In 1880 he travelled to Antwerp and studied under the artist, Charles Verlat, for two years. He then moved to Paris, where he continued his studies at the atelier of the painter Carolus Duran. He first exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin in 1883, with a painting entitled "Birds Nesting", which he sent from Paris. During the years that he lived in Paris, he travelled extensively visiting Italy, Spain and North Africa. He then married and moved to England, settling in Newlyn in Cornwall, where he became an eloquent spokesman for the Newlyn School of Art. In Newlyn, he also held painting classes and was an influential teacher, for many other Irish artists, such as May Guinness and Mildred Anne Butler.
In 1890 he moved with his family to Penzance, where he lived for the rest of his life. In 1892 he recorded the opening of the Canadian Pacific Railway, sending back illustrations to the Art Journal. He also supported himself by holding annual summer schools of painting in northern France and by writing articles for various art magazines, including The Studio.
During his career, he contributed a total of thirty four paintings to the annual exhibitions at the Royal Hibernian Academy. In 1904 he was one of the artists chosen by Sir Hugh Lane for a major Irish art exhibition, which was held at the Guildhall in London. Also, that same year he held a watercolour exhibition, entitled "In Border Lands" at the Fine Art Society, London, showing landscape paintings from Normandy, Brittany and Holland. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Ridley Art Club in London and at the Walker Gallery in Liverpool. His final contribution to the Royal Hibernian Academy was a painting entitled "The Sarine" which was exhibited there in 1916. His paintings are now housed in many important collections, including the National Gallery of Ireland, the Tate Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
Norman Garstin's paintings show the influence of the French Impressionist painters, in particular, Manet whom he greatly admired.This influence is most evident in his smaller scale paintings from Brittany, which were painted plein air. Garstin was also fascinated by Japanese prints and the paintings of the American artist, James McNeill Whistler.
Seeking his fortune, he moved to Kimberley, in South Africa, for two years, where he spent his time mining for diamonds. He then entered the newspaper business, founding the Cape Times newspaper with Cecil Rhodes. On returning to Ireland, he was blinded in one eye in a riding accident. Ironically it was then that he decided to become a full-time artist.
In 1880 he travelled to Antwerp and studied under the artist, Charles Verlat, for two years. He then moved to Paris, where he continued his studies at the atelier of the painter Carolus Duran. He first exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin in 1883, with a painting entitled "Birds Nesting", which he sent from Paris. During the years that he lived in Paris, he travelled extensively visiting Italy, Spain and North Africa. He then married and moved to England, settling in Newlyn in Cornwall, where he became an eloquent spokesman for the Newlyn School of Art. In Newlyn, he also held painting classes and was an influential teacher, for many other Irish artists, such as May Guinness and Mildred Anne Butler.
In 1890 he moved with his family to Penzance, where he lived for the rest of his life. In 1892 he recorded the opening of the Canadian Pacific Railway, sending back illustrations to the Art Journal. He also supported himself by holding annual summer schools of painting in northern France and by writing articles for various art magazines, including The Studio.
During his career, he contributed a total of thirty four paintings to the annual exhibitions at the Royal Hibernian Academy. In 1904 he was one of the artists chosen by Sir Hugh Lane for a major Irish art exhibition, which was held at the Guildhall in London. Also, that same year he held a watercolour exhibition, entitled "In Border Lands" at the Fine Art Society, London, showing landscape paintings from Normandy, Brittany and Holland. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Ridley Art Club in London and at the Walker Gallery in Liverpool. His final contribution to the Royal Hibernian Academy was a painting entitled "The Sarine" which was exhibited there in 1916. His paintings are now housed in many important collections, including the National Gallery of Ireland, the Tate Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
Norman Garstin's paintings show the influence of the French Impressionist painters, in particular, Manet whom he greatly admired.This influence is most evident in his smaller scale paintings from Brittany, which were painted plein air. Garstin was also fascinated by Japanese prints and the paintings of the American artist, James McNeill Whistler.
