A late 18th-century oil on canvas depicting a rural scene with a rustic timber-framed cottage and a boy playing with a dog. It seems that there’s a tug of war afoot with the dog gripping a stick vehemently with its teeth.

The artist, Michael ‘Angelo’ Rooker (1743-1801) is highly regarded and predominantly known for his topographical views of the British Isles. He also worked as the chief scene-painter at the Haymarket Theatre.

He exhibited 98 works at the Royal Academy and, after his death, over a dozen of his paintings were purchased by JMW Turner.

The painting is housed within a period frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 18” x 19” / 45cm x 49cm
Year of creation: c. 1790
Provenance: England
Condition: Very presentable overall. Canvas relined. Frame with age-related wear.
Artist’s auction highlight: £35,400 achieved for ‘A view of Jennings (or Gennings) Park, near Maidstone, Kent’ at Sotheby’s, New York in 1995.