From: Angie Barrow 
web mas  ter@webhound.co.uk 
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2002 

I read your correspondence on the Oyster Gatherers of Cancale. I have an almost identical oil painting, but signed "S A Forbes". Is this of interest?
 

Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 

There was "Stanhope Alexander Forbes", but his signature on canvases  (either "Stanhope Forbes" or none) does not match the "S A Forbes" on my picture. 

 . . . Alas, [I'm not sure if this is by him or not] I think it is likely to be a prank by picture reproduction people. It is too good to be true. 

The really interesting thing is that Forbes spent time in Cancale, which suggests a link between the pictures. 

Editor's Note -- Stanhope Alexander Forbes (1857-1947) was an Irish painter that studied at the Royal Academy and then in 1880 went to Paris to continue studies for two years. In 1881 he traveled to Cancale in Brittany where he  painted what would be his first well known work called ‘Street In Brittany’. He would eventually become a full member of the Royal Academy as well as the New English Art Club. 

From: Natasha

I'm certainly not an expert on Stanhope Alexander Forbes, but I wouldn't dismiss it too quickly. If the aim was to copy an artist, it would be Sargent's name, I would think, not Forbes which would appear on the painting -- as the original composition was in fact by John Singer Sargent.
 

Date: Tue, 25 May 2004

In fact, what Forbes was able to do in Cancale would prove to be the breakout moment for him. That he would be closely studying Sargent who had himself gotten so much interest from his own Cancale painting,  would seem quite likely.

Stanhope Alexander Forbes

A Street In Brittany
(Cancale)
1881

Note:
 

• More on Stanhope Alexander Forbes
• See Oyster Gatherers