Alfred Wallis at Fair Mo

Before Alfred Wallis started painting, he used to make things to sell at St Ives Fair Mo, held at the end of November.

This historic pig fair had transformed into a winter street fair, with booths "up Tregenna" selling sweets, toys, and fruit. In the evening the streets were lit by flaming torches "to allow the eyes of the youngsters to drink in the full glory of the stalls."

One local boy, Thomas Lander, later recalled the little windmills Alfred Wallis used to sell there:

"Fair Mo, in November, would see old Mr Wallis up there. A little bit of stick with a pin on top, four pieces of wood and a little bit of square wallpaper he used to cut up and paste on, so the wind would take it and revolve it around. That was his plan of a windmill, a ha’penny and a penny each."

This wintery painting by Alfred Wallis evokes an evening scene at St Ives, with empty streets after the fair was over.