This late 19th-century oil painting by British artist Robert Hudson Junior (1852-1884) depicts a picturesque view on the Ollerton Road, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, with a farmer, sheepdog and flock.
Hailing from Sheffield, Robert Hudson Junior was predominantly known for his views in Derbyshire, Scotland, North Wales, and Switzerland. His father was the still-life painter and art dealer, Robert Hudson Senior (1826-1885). Particularly admired in the north of England, Hudson Junior was an amiable character whose admiration for the natural world underpinned his artistic pursuits. A rather humble gentleman, he was dedicated to his work and lived a modest life - avoiding the trappings of courting notoriety. An obituary explained that “whatever fame he had was, so to speak, forced upon him, and was embarrassing rather than otherwise.”
His landscapes are broadly naturalistic and probably captured outdoors. Often, he adopted a short brushstroke and as such, light seems to flicker playfully across foliage. It’s reminiscent, in some ways, of the approach taken by Alfred Vickers (1786-1868) and indeed the grandfather of scattered light effects, John Constable (1776-1837).
He travelled extensively for inspiration - from the quaint banks of the Derwent River in Derbyshire to the epic peaks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Sherwood Forest was also a popular destination with its gnarled oaks and limber birch trees captured swiftly by his hand. His younger brother Willis Richard Edwin Hudson (1862-1936) also painted there.
Here, in this piece from around 1880, he’s perched an easel on the Ollerton Road to sketch a flock of sheep guided by a sheepdog, while the farmer pauses to talk. It’s interesting that after his death, his wife chose to keep a larger work depicting a similar view of this area.
In a fitting tribute, a local reporter noted that when discussing his favourite piece during a conversation in Sherwood Forest, he exclaimed “The Forest Smiles”. He’s represented in several public collections including Sheffield Museum.
Signed in the lower left and held within a period frame.
Learn more about Robert Hudson Junior in our directory.
Medium: Oil on board
Overall size: 25” x 16½” / 64cm x 42cm
Year of creation: c. 1880
Labels & Inscriptions: Supplier’s stamp on the reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Cleaned. Frame restored.
Artist’s auction maximum: £2,960 for ‘Landscape From Sherwood Forest’, Oil on canvas, Michael Zeller, Lindau, Germany, 1992.
Our reference: BRV1820
