Country Living Appraisal

Young Woman Feeding Chickens

This framed artwork is a watercolor painting on paper, depicting a rural scene. The central figure is a young woman in a white apron over a blue skirt, holding a dish, feeding chickens in a farmyard. The background shows a rustic wooden building with a window and open shutter. Several chickens, including a rooster and hens, are gathered around the feed trough. There are also pigeons perched on the roof and a couple on the ground. The dominant colors are earthy browns, greens, and blues, with touches of white and red in the chickens. The work is executed in pencil and watercolor, heightened with body color to enhance details and texture. Visible condition issues are not explicitly discernible from the image alone, however, the framing appears to be in good condition, with a golden-colored frame and a wide white mat. The artwork itself appears vibrant and well-preserved under the glass. The size is stated as 43.8x34 cm. The signature with monogram and date 1887 are noted in the context, indicating the artist is John Dawson Watson and the artwork was created in 1887. The style appears to be characteristic of late 19th-century genre painting, focusing on everyday rural life. The craftsmanship in the detailing of the animals and the texture of the wooden building suggests a skilled hand. A small white label with text and a number '219' is affixed to the lower right corner of the mat. There is also a label with text on the upper right corner of the frame. These labels are likely related to an auction or exhibition.