A very large English landscape oil painting in an exceptional carved and gilt wood frame, depicting a family gathered outside their thatched roof cottage. The daylight is dwindling- darkening in the shadows and through the trees but bright enough to spotlight the figures in front and notably charming details of the dogs and sheep. The donkeys by a stream at the lower left are almost swallowed by the dusk, but their appealing faces stand out from the darkening shadows. Bright faces of people, dogs and sheep all receive similar care and character, enlivening this delightful painting. Morland developed a distinctive compositional style which embraced the ordinary lives of people in their natural settings and he was famous for focusing as much on the animals and their individuality as on the human element. The style overall shows quick brushwork with pigments lightly applied, then built up in places for emphasis and to build up depth, especially with highlights against darker pigments. George Morland (1763-1804) came from a family of artists. He was the third generation of painters and was so skilled he started working for his artist father at a very young age, and first exhibited at the Royal Academy at age 10. He was immensely talented and much collected in his lifetime: both original oil paintings and also engravings mass produced after his popular work capturing the details of everyday life. Though very successful, he led a notably dissipated life and died at just age 41, after years of trading his work against debt and alcohol. This painting, apparently unsigned, is remarkable for its exceptionally large size which suggests it being a commission, ca. late 18th/early 19th century. It is known that his creditors would take his paintings for payment even before dry or completely finished, which may explain the thinness of some of the pigments and the craquelure from rapid execution. Framing is later, very good condition, very light wear.

H: 47 ½ W: 57 ¾ D: 3 ½