Alfred William Finch

• Alfred William Finch : Doverin rannikko, 1892, 66,5x80,5 cm, oil, canvas (A II 1700, Ahlström) [© Copyright holders] (71.5 kB)

At the turn of the '90s Finch had assumed the idea of 'art for all people' that had followed from the social developments of the age. This caused him to give up painting in favour of ceramics. The change to ceramics brought Finch in 1897 to Finland, where a modern decorative arts enterprise, the Iris factory had been set up in Porvoo by the Swedish count Louis Sparre. Sparre persuaded Finch, who had attracted notice in Belgium with his modern ceramics, to come and direct the ceramics department of the new manufactory. The decision to start ceramic production at the Iris factory meant a new homeland for Finch. Although Iris was able to function only for a few years, Finch settled in Finland for the rest of his life.

Doverin rannikko