Francis John ROSKRUGE
An Engineer Captain in the Royal Navy, he was born at St Keverne, Cornwall and educated in Truro. He served in South Africa during the Boer War and East Africa in the First World War (awarded DSO). He moved to St Ives on his retirement from the Navy in 1922.
He exhibited from Borlase SMART's studio in the Show Day 1924, and was complimented for his 'bitten lines and aqua-tints' in some quantity, including ones of Saltash, Lelant, Selina's Cottage (down Skidden Hill) and A Devon Coombe.
Roskruge exhibited in the NAG Christmas Show of 1926. He was a founder member of STISA and served on the Committee for its first thirteen years. He made a valuable contribution to the 'black and white' section of the society. In the Track of the Moon was considered to be one of his best prints.
However he is perhaps best known for his map of the studios around the town that he prepared for the Show Day brochure each year. Tovey (2003) reprints the 1929 version of Map of Studios (p14) and employs it again in his 2009 social history of the town. Roskruge also illustrated Greville Matheson's book of poetry about St Ives, Crooked Streets.
Not only a keen member of STIAC, he was a good actor and a well-respected playwright. He ceased exhibiting after resigning as STISA Treasurer in 1940, but remained a member until his death. He lived at Bosvean, St Ives and had a studio at his home.
media
Specialised in etchings and aquatints but also a playwright and entertainer
works and access
Likenesses of the Artist: Photo, together with John PARK and Fred MILNER repr Tovey (2003) Creating a Splash p263; (2010) Sea Change;
Access to Work: Court Cocking (repr Tovey 2003, p264); also An Old Cornish Cider Press and In the Track of the Moon in Tovey (2010)
1929 Map of St Ives (repr Tovey 2009, p319): A Mappe of the Towne of Saint Ives, being a Guide to ye Studios of moste Members of ye Society.
exhibitions
NAG 1926
St Ives 1923, March 1923, April, New Print Society Exhibition (etchers, printers, litho & woodcuts), Chelsea Reach; Saltash Bridge (etchings) 1924
RB Smart studio: The Derelict; Selina's Cottage; A Devon Combe (aquatints) 1928
Porthmeor Gallery
STISA 1923, Show Day, his first 1932, 34, 36 and 37, Touring Shows
memberships
STISA: 1927-1952, Jt. Secretary 1927, Treasurer 1928-1939 STIAC: President 1927-8
references
Cornishman (8 Dec 1926; 8 Aug 1928);
Hardie (1995) 100 Years/Diary; (2009) Artists/Newlyn & West Cornwall A p266 (bibl)
St Ives Times (21 Mar 1924);
Tovey (2000) George Fagan Bradshaw - Submariner & Marine Artist, etc. STISA Principal members list p228; (2003) Creating a Splash (Illus); (2009) St Ives/ Social History (St Ives map of artists' studios); (2010) Sea Change
Whybrow St Ives (1911-20 list pp 216-8)