This beautiful late 19th-century watercolour by British artist James Herbert Snell (1861-1935) depicts a shepherd herding sheep in the evening.

Snell was an interesting painter as his works span a transitional period for British art. Around 1880, French impressionism was in full swing and gaining the attention of many British artists. As a young man, he was surely influenced by the impressionists, yet also embedded into a deep British tradition for naturalism. As such, many of his paintings draw on both schools, with his later works becoming more impressionistic.

He trained at the Heatherley School of Fine Art and also undertook study trips to Paris and Amsterdam. His travels enabled him to collaborate with a range of diverse artists, which furthered his development. In 1890, he was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists and in 1909 became a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. He exhibited widely including 45 times at the Royal Academy.

This is a fine example of his work in watercolour. There’s a misty warmth, which envelopes the scene, coupled with a sense of movement.

Signed in the lower right and held within a gilt frame, which is probably original. Glazed.

Learn more about James Herbert Snell in our directory.

Medium: Watercolour on paper
Overall size: 27½” x 22” / 70cm x 56cm
Year of creation: c. 1890
Labels & Inscriptions: Label from Henry Graves & Co, picture dealers and framemakers. The given address of 6 Pall Mall, London, relates to the period 1845 to 1891. Title inscribed on reverse.
Provenance: Henry Graves & Co, London (c. 1890) / Private collection, England.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Frame restored. Frame with old repairs, touch-ups, and signs of age.
Artist’s auction maximum: £4,800
Our reference: BRV1541