This bucolic depiction of provincial England was painted by listed American artist William Staples Drown (b. 1856 d. 1915). He was most well known for his landscapes and marine paintings. While he lived in Rhode Island most of his life, he traveled extensively to paint, and it is those paintings he did abroad that are the most valued. He studied under Appleton Brown in Boston. Drown also studied in Venice and Paris, and has works housed in Brown University and the Whistler House Museum of Art. Antiques Roadshow on PBS had a wonderful highlight of the artist: https://video.aptv.org/video/antiques-roadshow-appraisal-1895-william-staples-drown-oil-painting/

Signed “W Staples Drown” in lower right, labeled “Berkswell Warwickshire England” on verso.

Medium: oil on linen

Size of support: 14” x 17 1/2”   Outside frame dimension: 17” x 21”

Period of creation: 1890-1900

Condition: The paint layer is freshly cleaned with a fresh dammar varnish applied. Areas of cupping in the sky have been consolidated, several small losses in the sky have been filled and inpainted. Linen, ground, and paint layers are all stable and present  well. The original stretcher is solid, although has several small losses and some keys have been replaced. Housed in its original silver leaf frame, areas of tarnish, some gesso losses and inpainting. 

Auction High Result: Bonhams Skinner 11/18/2005, $36,425