The Mermaid of Zennor, John Reinhard Weguelin

The Mermaid of Zennor, John Reinhard Weguelin

Watercolour,
1900.
Inspired by medieval legend of a mermaid who lived at Pendour Cove, near Zennor, Cornwall, about whom various stories are told. The young man in the picture is Matthew Trewhell, a chorister of St. Senara's church in Zennor, with whose voice the mermaid was besotted. According to legend, he fell in love with the mermaid and went to share her watery home, although his voice can still be heard at Pendour Cove when he is singing.