Little Hampton

 This beach scene faces a row of houses while capturing women on a leisurely stroll with their parasols and two men on horseback. The artist’s use of black chalk to loosely outline the structures, figures, and impending cloud coverage produces sketch-like lines in the company of his painterly style. The free-form outlines create a space where thick layers of gouache can be applied. Liven’s abstract use of colour intertwined with his impressionistic style form the basis of his oeuvre, while his use of watercolours and gouache offered him the chance to create the rich hues upon the coloured paper.

Horace Mann Livens

The artist studied with Vincent Van Gogh at the Académie Royale des Beaux Arts in Antwerp in 1885, where they shared lodgings. Before returning to London in 1890, the young artist continued his studies in Paris, focusing particularly on the work of Manet.

The friendship continued after this sojourn, and Van Gogh famously wrote to Livens in 1886 to discuss his theories on colour: ‘Since I am here in Paris I have very often thought of yourself and work. You will remember that I liked your colour, your ideas on art and literature and I add, most of all your personality.’ (Quoted in A.M. and R. Hammacher, Van Gogh, London, Thames and Husdon, 1982, p.123)

Declining Van Gogh’s invitation to join him in the South of France, Livens exhibited widely in London, showing his talent in subjects ranging from landscapes and studies of poultry to still lives and portraits in a variety of media.

Livens is also noted for having painted the earliest known portrait of Van Gogh by another hand. It was reproduced in a Flemish magazine, but the original has since vanished.

Museums
National Museum, Cardiff
Paisley Museum, Scotland