Rural Life

In his hat and overcoat the owner of this splendid red brick farmhouse with its pretty lattice windows and picket fence can be seen walking through his garden with his brindled dog by his side whilst the ladies of the family picnic in a distant arbour. The trees are looking autumnal but it’s a bright, clear day as the house is reflected in the garden pond. The farmhand in his white coat is going about his chores having just fed the chickens.

This delightfully naive watercolour of rural life was painted during the early part of the nineteenth century and is unsigned. It has a single old wormhole (by the chickens) and a brown horizontal line across the top probably from an earlier frame but is otherwise in very good condition. It resides in a period bird’s eye maple frame with a gilt slip. The frame has some gapping on the corners and minor scratching.