This late 19th-century oil painting by British artist David Bates (1840-1921) depicts a woodland landscape in North Wales.
A young girl sits to rest under the sinuous bough of a leaning birch amid the golden tones of autumnal foliage. An older figure, perhaps a parent, carries sticks gathered from the land. Overhead, the clouds culminate in a bright horizon, which illuminates the distant craggy peaks.
Bates loved it here in North Wales and painted a similar view around ten years earlier in 1879. He tended to work directly from nature and returned to this spot on numerous occasions.
Signed/dated lower left and held in a splendid gilt frame with pierced corners and centres.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 30” x 36” / 77cm x 92cm
Year of creation: 1889
Condition: Artwork presents well. Canvas relined. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £36,198
Our reference: BRV1501
David Bates exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy, Royal Society of British Artists, New Watercolour Society and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. He’s represented at the Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, Liverpool Museum, The Wilson, Cheltenham, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, and the Derby Museum & Gallery among others.
Learn more about David Bates in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
