This masterful late 19th-century Eastern European oil painting depicts several rustic farm buildings bathed in resplendent Summer heat. It’s possibly Romania or Ukraine.

Dominated by light effects, this exquisite realist work skillfully captures an array of complex sunlit structures - some thatched, others tiled. In the thick shade of a coppice, two figures amble up a dirt track, while another heads towards them. And on the left, an illuminated farmhand in near-white guides two cattle. Each rendered sublimely with careful consideration and deft handling.

During the mid to late 19th century, European artists often looked to convey a sense of national identity, selecting subjects which brought gravitas to working-class communities and their environments. Many of the leading lights trained initially in national academies before furthering their development in Paris - returning home to apply their craft.

This homogenisation of technique led to a similarity in European styles, yet a contrast in the emphasis placed upon nature. For instance, the approach here is similar to realist artists working in France and Germany during the same period, although the topography is considerably different.

Ukrainian painter Serhii Ivanovych Vasylkivsky (1854-1917) worked in this way - studying first at the Academy in Saint Petersburg and later broadening his range of influences in the French capital.

Works by top-tier Eastern European artists can reach in excess of £50,000 at auction. But we’re unable to ascertain the creator of this splendid piece as the signature is challenging to decipher.

Signed in the lower left and held within a later frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 42½” x 25½” / 108cm x 65cm
Year of creation: c. 1880
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed on the stretcher. Possibly an artist’s name but illegible.
Provenance: Private collection, Germany.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Fine craquelure but the paint is stable. Frame with some light wear.