CORNWALL.- Falmouth Art Gallery has acquired a masterpiece by Thomas Cooper Gotch, an artist with strong connections to the town.

Innocence is an imaginative watercolour depicting the artist’s only child, Phylis, with a dragon. The Art Fund has given £20,000 towards the £32,000 acquisition.

Thomas Cooper Gotch had strong connections with Falmouth and is central to the study of Cornish art. He is known for having spent time at the acclaimed Newlyn artists’ colony in Cornwall. This small but beautifully executed painting shows off Gotch’s watercolour skills.

Brian Stewart, Director of Falmouth Art Gallery, said: "This important painting shows Gotch at his very best. Thanks to the generosity of the Art Fund, we have been able to return it to Cornwall and prevent it from being lost again to a private collector, perhaps forever."

This is the second time we have supported the Gallery in a record breaking sale. We previously helped the town to acquire A beggar boy by John Opie for £80,000.

The Gallery is currently collecting donations towards to purchase of the painting, however small.