A fine oil on canvas still life of fruit with a wonderful butterfly. The painting is by William Harding Smith 1848-1922 a highly regarded painter who returned to this subject several times. Smith was trained by his father WIlliam Collingwood Smith and painted various subjects including landscape and historical works. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of British artists and exhibited widely including a staggering 187 times there. The painting is signed to the lower left and dated 1894. The work is in good untouched condition and is a great example of these Victorian ''grassy bank'' paintings with fruit, here the plums and grapes look edible and the butterfly makes an unusual and decorative inclusion. The painting is framed in what looks like the original gilt frame and it suits it well giving it great impact and drawing the eye into the work. The frame has been re-gilt at a later date but it has aged in well. The whole is a great example of the genre and a lovely decorative p...