Penlee News

Save Forbes's 'Abbey Slip' for Penzance!

Fans of Newlyn School art may have seen in the papers recently that Stanhope Forbes’s iconic painting of Penzance, ‘Abbey Slip’, was offered for sale at auction with an estimate of £240,000 - £260,000, but it did not sell. 

Although we were unable to raise enough money to go after this work at auction, we are very keen to acquire this painting, which has been shown here many times and is a great popular favourite.  Now that it has failed to sell, we have negotiated with the owner to agree a Private Treaty sale at a much lower figure, if we can raise sufficient funds to purchase the painting at an agreed price.

The Friends Committee have pledged £10,000 towards the purchase and, as usual, we are seeking grant aid from various sources, but we still need further help.  Individual members of the Friends have already generously sent donations totalling more than £16,000, but we welcome further donations - no matter how small.

If you would like to make a donation to help us to secure this important work for our collections and thus for the public, please send a cheque, made payable to ‘The Friends of Penlee House’ and address it to me, Alison Bevan, here at Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Morrab Road, Penzance TR18 4HE.  If you have not already signed a Gift Aid declaration and are eligible to do so, please also print off, complete and return the form attached here, ticking whichever box is applicable, which will enable us to claim an additional 25p for every £1 you donate.

Unless you specify otherwise, donations will only be banked if we are successful in securing this work: if we are unable to buy the painting, we will return all unused donations.  Equally, if you are making a donation of £100 or more and would like your donation to be publicly credited, please let us know by ticking the box below and we will ensure that you are listed among the painting’s donors.

Thank you, in anticipation, for your support - and wish us luck in raising the funds!

Alison Bevan
Director, Penlee House