This fine mid-19th-century watercolour by British artist Charles Davidson (1824-1902) depicts a haymaking scene in Lewes, Sussex. It was shown at the Royal Society of British Artists in 1857 and praised by the art critic John Ruskin who exclaimed “what a lovely field that must be!”.Weary hands rest in the shade of a welcoming oak tree, as the buoyant heat of Summer cascades across sun-bleached grass. It’s time for haymaking - a communal endeavour. In 1856, a similar piece by Davidson was acquired by Queen Victoria and given to Prince Albert as a Christmas gift. It’s currently in the Royal Collection.Described by the London Illustrated News as “exquisitely simple and pure in feeling”, this charming portrayal of the picturesque Sussex countryside is a splendid example of the artist’s abundant mastery of watercolour.Born in Chelsea, London, to Scottish parents, Davidson was orphaned at an early age and undertook his education locally. Initially, he was apprenticed by a seedsma...