This charming early 20th-century oil painting by Danish artist Caroline van Deurs (1860-1932) depicts a sunlit courtyard at Holmegaard Gods, a historic country estate in South Zealand, Denmark. Painted on 21 July 1927, it captures a bright summer's day, with a young girl playing with a cat beneath the old timber-framed building.

The courtyard is bathed in brilliant sunshine. Whitewashed walls contrast with warm terracotta rooftops, while a vivid blue sky rises above the tall chimneys. Birds gather along the rooflines, and patches of grass, scattered with tiny white flowers, soften the foreground. To the left, a young girl sits quietly beside a cat, absorbed in their own world.

Holmegaard Gods dates back to the 17th century and was owned by the aristocratic Danneskiold-Samsøe family. At the time of the painting, it belonged to Count Aage Conrad Danneskiold-Samsøe (1886-1945), whose daughter Elisabeth Henriette had been born in January 1924. She could plausibly be the little girl depicted here.

There's also an intriguing artistic connection. Another member of the family, Count Sophus Danneskjold-Samsøe (1874-1961), was himself an accomplished painter. Whether he and Caroline were acquainted is unknown, but it raises the possibility that her visit arose through a shared interest in art.

Caroline was 66 years old when she painted this work, having spent much of her career depicting intimate domestic scenes, particularly those involving children. Her paintings often celebrate the small pleasures of family life, and this is a particularly appealing example.

It's tempting to imagine her standing at her easel on that warm July afternoon, surrounded by centuries of history, with the sounds of birds and family life drifting across the courtyard. Perhaps she was staying with friends, or had been invited to paint the estate.

Remarkably, the buildings depicted here survive today, and the north wing of Holmegaard Gods can still be recognised from its distinctive timber framing, windows, doorways and red tiled roof.

A label on the reverse names Piet van Deurs (1931-2018), a Danish historian and television presenter, which suggests he was a previous owner. Genealogical research establishes that Piet was the artist's great-nephew.

Signed, inscribed 'Holmegaard' and dated 21 July 1927. Presented in a gilt frame.

Learn more about Caroline van Deurs in our directory.