Benjamin Williams Leader, R.A.

STRUCTURE This picture is relined and in very good condition with clear colouring. There are areas of craquelure in the sky and among the darker areas of the composition but this is only visible upon close inspection and the paint surface is clean and stable. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT There is an area of retouching in the centre of the sky above the trees. FRAME This picture is contained in a simple wooden frame and would benefit from being reframed. For more information regarding this picture please contact the Victorian & Edwardian Pictures Department on +44 (0)207 293 5718.
"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."

A track winds through a meadow, the furrows made by the carts filled with rainwater from a shower that has passed over leaving a sky radiant with the last rays of the setting sun. Two female figures and a sheepdog make their way homewards at the end of their day as the sheep settle for the night and a flock of birds fly to roost. The scene celebrates the close of a day, the glory of the fading sun suggesting the rebirth in the morning when a new day will begin. In 1900 many artists painted pictures symbolising the end of one age and the hope for the twentieth century. Whilst other artists painted allegories, Leader chose to depict the majesty of the British countryside that was his inspiration for seven decades.

Although Leader was living in Surrey in 1900 he often returned to his former home county of Worcestershire where he painted the square-towered churchs, the thatched cottages and the meadows. 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.