Benjamin Williams Leader, R.A.

Royal Academy, 1860, probably no. 507 as A Worcestershire Lane

STRUCTURE This picture is relined and in very good condition with strong colours. There are areas of fine craquelure, particularly to the trees on the extreme left but this is only visible upon close inspection. The picture may benefit from a light clean. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT The varnish appears opaque under ultraviolet light. There are very minor retouchings to the head of the dark-haired girl. FRAME This picture is contained in ts original gilt moulded plaster frame, with minor losses.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,
The ploughman homeward plods his weary way,
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.'
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray.

A ploughman and his young son and collie are approaching the gate of their cottage, on the doorstep of which stands his wife with his youngest daughter in her arms. In the beautifully observed spring garden are gathered his two older daughters who also await their father's return from his hard labours in the fields. The garden is in full bloom with dog-roses and honeysuckle climbing over the willow hurdle at the gate and the carefully tended borders are filled with poppies, white lilies and cultivated roses. This is an idyllic scene of English country life.

The church depicted in Evening, The Ploughman Homeward Plods his Weary Way is probably the church of St John the Baptist in the village of Claines in Worcestershire. Leader painted this church in a number of his paintings, including An English Country Churchyard, Autumn of 1863 which depicts the south-east view of the Lady Chapel. A feature that appears in many of Leader's landscapes is an ancient yew tree growing in a churchyard and in the present picture Leader painted a yew tree at the gate. Yew trees had been planted at the entrances to church grounds since the very earliest days of Christianity and it has been suggested that they were Celtic symbols of eternity adopted by the early Christians. Another explanation is that the poisonous fruit of the tree deterred livestock from entering the churchyards. 

It has been suggested that the red brick house depicted in this painting was a poor house rented from William Hall in 1830 by R. T. Jackson. The white cottage is probably one of the two Church Copttages (now knocked into one).

We are grateful to the Reverend Stephen Agnew, Vicar of Claines for his suggestion regarding the buildings in this picture.