English, mid- to late- 19th century

Oil on artist’s board, retaining a Windsor & Newton supply dating ca. 1865-1890.

Painting size: 10” x 14”
Frame size: 13.75” x 17.75”

This quiet Victorian genre scene shows two young girls gathering water at a spring. The older girl gives a container to the younger one, steadying the load a moment to ensure that she can carry it. The little girl’s upright posture indicates that she is well aware of the importance of her task.

The girls’ chore does not appear to be an onerous one, reinforced by the careful attention given to the rendering of the lush ferns and foxglove that surround the spring. It is simply a part - and pleasure - of daily life in the country.