This early 20th-century oil painting by English artist Henry John Yeend King (1855-1924) depicts a quiet moment in the countryside, as a girl patiently guides a calf across an old stone bridge, while bathed in the rich colours of autumn.
At first glance, the painting delights through its luminous palette and masterful handling of light. Golden foliage, russet trees, and soft green meadows lead the eye naturally through the composition, while the weathered bridge provides a focal point. Beyond the bridge, the landscape gradually dissolves into delicate blue-grey hills, inviting the viewer to continue their journey.
Whether deliberately or not, the crossing provides an interesting symbol of patience, trust and guidance. The young girl does not pull or hurry the calf but simply guides it. In doing so, the humble bridge becomes a reminder that life''s most meaningful journeys are often shaped through simple acts of care.
Yeend King was among Britain''s most admired painters of rur
...al life. After studying in Paris under Léon Bonnat and Fernand Cormon, he embraced the brighter palette and natural light of French painting. His works combine careful observation with an exceptional understanding of colour and atmosphere, qualities that earned him widespread acclaim during his lifetime.
Throughout his distinguished career, he exhibited extensively at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists, and the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, where he later served as Vice-President.
His paintings won medals in Paris, Berlin, and Chicago and are today held in numerous public collections, including Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Walker Art Gallery, and the Harris Museum & Art Gallery.
Signed in the lower right and held in a gilt frame with scrolling foliate ornament and richly cast corner cartouches.
Learn more about Henry John Yeend King in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 28” x 21” / 71cm x 54cm
Year of creation: c. 1900
Labels & Inscriptions: Cooling Galleries, London, label on the reverse.
Provenance: With Cooling Galleries, London / Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Canvas relined. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £75,000 achieved in 1996 for ‘The Path by the Mill’.
Our reference: BRV2317
Internal Reference: BRV2317
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1223249
Dateline of this antique is 1900
Height is 54cm (21.3inches)Width is 71cm (28.0inches)Depth is 5cm (2.0inches)
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