Benjamin Williams Leader, R.A. 1831-1923

This picture is derived from a plein air work which Leader painted before he moved to Surrey. The composition is very close to a larger painting, which resides in a private collection, which would suggest that it was executed during his Worcestershire period. It also relates to his painting entitled An English Country Churchyard, Autumn, which was exhibited at the R.A. in 1864, no. 316. The R.A. submission contains many similar elements, including the girl and the dog. A number of preparatory sketches held in various private collections with similar elements as the present work would suggest that it was executed in the studio as opposed to en plein air.