This is a fine mid-19^th century oil on canvas depicting a mother and daughter on a summer afternoon gathering gorse (or furze as it is also known) for kindling with a donkey resting nearby by the eminent British landscape painter Sidney Richard Percy (1822-1886). ‘Furze Cutters’ is signed by the artist and dated 1851. The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London that same year, and hangs in an English Baroque style frame decorated in gold metal leaf.

As with all of the original antique oil paintings we sell it is offered in the very finest condition it can be for its age, having just been professionally cleaned and re-varnished.

Sidney Richard Percy was the fifth son of the celebrated English landscape painter Edward Williams (1781-1855), one of the most famous families in British art history. In my opinion Sidney Richard Percy was its most gifted painter. Just as his brothers Henry John Boddington (1811-1865) and Arthur Gilbert (1819-1895) had done, Sidney Williams changed his name in order to distinguish himself from the other members of the Williams family.

Between 1842 and 1886 Percy exhibited at all the leading Victorian art venues showing 76 paintings at the Royal Academy, 48 at the British Institution, and 73 with the Royal Society of British Artists at the Suffolk Street Gallery.

Dimensions: (framed) 73cm x 55cm (28¾” x 21¾”)

Dimensions: (canvas only) 61cm x 41cm (24” x 16”)

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Provenance: Private UK collection.

Presentation: Good quality English Baroque style frame in gold metal leaf.

Condition: Excellent. Newly professionally cleaned and re-varnished. Lined circa 1970. Ready to hang.