PROPERTY FROM AN ENGLISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
BENJAMIN WILLIAMS LEADER RA (BRITISH 1831-1923)
The village church
Signed and dated B W LEADER 1918 lower left
Oil on canvas
45 x 76cm (18 x 30in)

Provenance
Sotheby's, London, April 1st 1980, lot 136

Leader was living in Surrey in 1918 although often returning to his former home county of Worcestershire where he painted the familiar churches with their ancient towers and yew trees in the churchyards.

The present work can be compared on stylistic and compositional grounds to a larger (36 x 60in.) known work, dated 1900.Fig,1: With a comparable treatment of light and a similar vigour to the brushwork, the present work reveals a radiant sky and the last rays of the setting sun.

Fig.1:The close of day, Worcestershire meadows, dated 1900, sold at Sotheby's, London, Victorian and Edwardian Sale, 17th December 2009, lot 16