Certainly the general situation of the engine house on a hillside with
valley beyond is reminiscent of John's shaft at Tywarnhaile, so I can see
where that idea came from, but I have in my album photos of that engine
house I took when on the RSM survey course in 1952.
Where-ever it is, it is not John's shaft at Tywarnhaile. Too many details
are wrong - John's engine house still had its gable end, did not have as
many storeys, and the chimney was located about the middle of the end wall,
not near a corner of the building. The valley below was, as has been said,
wider, and had a road running along it to Porthtowan, even in the days the
mine was working, so the valley in the painting is also unlike the
Tywarnhaile location.
Also John's is near the top of the hill, so you would not have a viewpoint
as high above the chimney base as is indicated by the artist's viewpoint in
the painting.
It could be an "artist's licence" imagined view?
Tony Brewis
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