This early 19th-century English oil painting depicts a farmyard with cattle, sheep and figures.

With his elbows resting atop a chunky bovine, a weary farmer gazes across his yard. His wife, clutching a large pail, stands alongside, ready to commence milking. Several animals look on with all eyes on the udders. Here’s how to make a cow feel conspicuous.

Charming farmyard scenes were popular during this period as homeowners sought to decorate their dwellings with rustic images of rural Britain. Notable artists such as George Morland (1763-1804) and John Frederick Herring Sr. (1795-1865) were masters of the craft. Producing numerous characterful depictions of agricultural settings.

Here, the hills are vaguely reminiscent of Malvern.

Signed _R Wing, dated, and held within a later 19th-century frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 17” x 13½” / 43cm x 34cm
Year of creation: 1834
Labels & Inscriptions: Framer’s label from Frederick Bowden of 27 & 28 Upper Arcade, Bristol, circa 1900.
Condition: Craquelure but the paint is stable. Patched repair. Frame slightly misshapen and with some wear.