Algernon Talmage was an English landscape and portrait painter associated with the Newlyn School and the St Ives artists’ colony in Cornwall. Born in 1871 in London, he studied at St John’s Wood Art School before continuing his training in Paris at the Académie Julian, where he developed a strong interest in natural light and plein-air painting. His painting virtuosity was all the more remarkable as a shotgun accident, while a teenager, rendered his favoured right hand inoperable.

Talmage settled in Cornwall in the late nineteenth century and became known for his luminous depictions of rural life, sunlit landscapes, and coastal scenes. His paintings often captured the changing effects of light and atmosphere, reflecting the influence of French Impressionism while retaining a distinctly English character. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and achieved considerable success during his lifetime, winning medals in both Britain and abroad.

In addition to his painting career, Talmage was a respected teacher who influenced many younger artists working in Cornwall. Today he is remembered for his richly coloured landscapes and his important role in the development of British Impressionist painting.