When Lord Leighton, President of the Royal Academy, set in motion the principle of exhibiting at Newlyn (from 1895) for the Opening of the Art Gallery, in order to honour and support the Newlyn Colony of painters, he did not, of course, suspect his own death in the following year (1896). In his place Sir John Everett Millais became President (1896), but died before he could continue in such a tradition, if it could be called such.

Sir Edward Poynter was elected in that same year to take up the office from Millais, and sent in to Newlyn's Spring Show of 1898. Though he never worked in the area, he was keen to encourage and support Stanhope FORBES (already an ARA) and his colleagues at Newlyn. His home at the time of sending was in Albert Gate, SW, but he requested the return of his painting (for show rather than sale) to his studio, 3 The Avenue, 76 Fulham Road, London.