An impressive large view of the Cornwall seaside port of St. Ives, this is a top-level painting by the artist Richard Hayley Lever. The diversity of activity on Smeaton's Pier with spectators, shoppers, and a horse-drawn fish cart is complemented with the two fleets of sailing ships: The colorful fishing boats finishing their day's work at anchor, and the multitude of pleasure-seeking sailing boats. Dominating the center is the Old Lighthouse, built in 1830 at what was once the pier's end. The north-shore pier was built out in 1890 and another lighthouse was built at the new terminus.
One of the primary English coastal fishing villages, it evolved over the years in part due to its relative mild winters and cooler summers, so today it is regarded a premier English coastal vacation resort. Such diverse beauty made it a popular artists' community as well, and Lever found this and became a resident artist for more than 10 years. This view is from his second-story art studio looking toward St. Ives Bay.
Hayley Lever made a sensational impact in America with his interpretive Post-Impressionism with aggressive impasto application, brushwork and daring coloration, in part directly inspired by Vincent Van Gogh. This particular epic work would have been in demand after his first American exhibition at the Carnigie International in Pittsburgh. American buyers clamored for his scenes after he exhibited "Port of St. Ives, Cornwall" in 1910.
