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19th Century English School - Man after a donkey, English School 19th century

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Children playing with a donkey

$1,642.88

£1,200

€1,408.73

CA$2,304.95

A$2,532.48

CHF 1,305.98

MX$30,341.66

NOK 16,581.97

SEK 15,561.50

DKK 10,521.24

About the Item

Sir George Harvey was a prominent Scottish painter, born on 1 February 1806 in St Ninians (now Stirling), the son of a watchmaker. Although he initially apprenticed as a bookseller in Stirling, he followed his passion for art to Edinburgh at age 18, studying at the Trustees’ Academy under Sir William Allan and Andrew Wilson. In 1826, he exhibited his first work, A Village School, and became one of the founding associates of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1827. He was elected a full academician in 1829 and served as its President from 1864 until his death, receiving knighthood in 1867 Harvey was best known for his genre and historical paintings, especially those depicting religious and everyday Scottish life, such as Covenanters’ Preaching, The Curlers, and Quitting the Manse, In later years, he turned his attention more toward landscapes—renowned for their atmospheric quality and quiet grandeur—with works like The Enterkin and scenes of the West Highlands. He published a monograph on the "Colour of the Atmosphere" (1868) and Notes on the Early History of the Royal Scottish Academy (1870) Harvey passed away on 22 January 1876 in Edinburgh and was laid to rest in Warriston Cemetery In this imagined narrative scene, Harvey applies his signature combination of genre drama and open-air scenery: Four rustic children gather near a donkey. One boy, seated astride the donkey’s back, delivers a playful slap to its rump; a second child, standing behind, mischievously whacks the donkey’s flank with a leafy branch. The other two children, close by, are doubled over in laughter, clearly amused by the commotion. A small dog barks energetically at the donkey’s feet, adding to the lively dynamic and bringing an additional note of playful chaos to the scene. The children and animals occupy the foreground. Behind them, a lone, dead tree rises starkly—its bare limbs contrasting with the youthful exuberance below. Yet beyond that, a vast expanse of empty sky stretches across much of the canvas, invoking Harvey’s penchant for combining human vignette with spacious, natural backdrop. Painted with rich earth tones and warm light, Harvey’s attention to character is evident in the children’s varied expressions—from triumph and mischief to mirth. The donkey, too, is rendered with gentle realism. The sky above, perhaps misty or softly overcast, provides a pictorial balance and imbues the scene with timeless pastoral serenity. This scene would resonate with Harvey’s lifelong interest in genre painting—infusing an everyday rural moment with moral or sentimental undertones—all set within a landscape that honours Scotland’s natural beauty In essence, this portrayal combines Harvey’s strengths: narrative characterisation, atmospheric landscape, and a strong emotional undertone, wrapped in an engaging tableau of youthful mischief and bucolic charm. The painting size is 26.5 x 32.5 cm

Attributed to:
George Harvey (1800 - 1878, British)
Dimensions:
Height: 15.56 in (39.5 cm)Width: 17.92 in (45.5 cm)
Medium:
Oil,Board
Movement & Style:
English School
Period:
19th Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
GB
Reference Number:
Seller: b241stDibs: LU2841216592382

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