Artists, Hastings & Hastings Country Park

I have written before about 19th century artists coming to Hastings and its environs to admire the scenery and to paint, particularly 6 years ago when I wrote a blog about Watercolourists, notably J.M.W. Turner, and a blog about the Pre-Raphaelites. Well, I reminded myself many times whilst walking across Hastings Country Park for my exercise during the COVID-19 Crisis and observing this view down Warren Glen, and particularly when filming this video whilst looking down the glen and admiring the cattle.

One of the founding members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, William Holman Hunt, came to Hastings a number of times, particularly in 1852 to carry out a commission, Our English Coasts, a visit during which he was accompanied by Edward Lear, who requested tutoring, and when they stayed at Clive Vale Farm, which no longer exists. This is discussed in my earlier blog, as is Hunt's painting of the daughter of a local labourer, The Schoolgirl's Hymn. Hunt and Lear were joined by Millais for some of that time, and Hunt was accompanied by Millais again during a later visit in 1858 where they stayed at Fairlight Lodge, when he worked on Fairlight Downs, Sunlight on the Sea (above) which he had originally started during the first visit 6 years previously, and The Schoolgirl's Hymn, which was completed in 1859. 

You will notice that the first photograph above is from slightly below the view from where Holman Hunt worked on Fairlight Downs, Sunlight on the Sea, but this field now is more likely to have either Exmoor Ponies or Belted Galloway Cattle in it, rather than sheep. Also, the dog in the painting was added later I believe, and is likely a black spaniel, but it was suggested in correspondence with Dante Gabriel Rossetti that it was based on the Clive Vale farmer's Newfoundland dog that Hunt met during the 1852 visit.

The fun they had... 😉 and it is a great view, enjoy!

Bottle Alley - New Lighting Video

OK, a daytime image, but have a look at this video on youtube, impressive!

Hastings Lifeboats Launch

If you have a facebook account, you can see this video of the launch of both boats in the exercise earlier this week, and please 'like' their page too!

Fishing from the Pier still, plus video...

I saw this on the Paul's Tackle facebook page, which said that there are "loads of fish coming off the pier this week...every day... the best catch was to Bill and his mate on Tuesday...80 fish and 8 different species, including Flounder, Plaice, Dab, Whiting, Rockling, and Pouting... Only reason they packed up was because they ran out of bait!" 

There is also a video on youtube about fishing from Hastings Pier, well worth watching. 

Remember, details of fishing and permits can be found at Paul's Tackle, enjoy!

Excellent Hastings Pier Video!

I just found this excellent video, from Sussex Air Imaging, on the website, well worth a look at! I'm looking forward to getting onto the pier myself, hopefully, very soon...

The Source Park video link...

Here is a link to the opening weekend video from The Source Park, excellent! 

I trust they have an excellent First Aider...