Gathering Plums

Henry Herbert La Thangue 1859 - 1929

Summary

Dappled sunlit scene of a young woman and boy gathering plums in an orchard on the banks of a stream. In the foreground the young woman dressed in white kneels with a basket in her left hand, her right arm outstretched gathering fallen fruit from the ground, three baskets full of fruit to her side in the bottom left corner. Behind her to the right, young boy in shirt sleeves and braces also scours the ground for plums. The stream and banks of trees with bent trunks and sunlit leafy branches are behind them to the left.

Display Label

Gathering Plums 1901 Henry Herbert La Thangue 1859-1929 Oil on canvas La Thangue was unusual among British artists who responded to modern French painting in that he was a promising student at the Royal Academy, winning its highest prize, the gold medal, in 1879. When he left for Paris it was for the Ecole des Beaux-Arts to study under the traditionalist Jean-Léon Gérôme. He left for Britanny, however, with Stanhope Forbes, and the two friends pursued working outdoors. Later a founder member of the New English Art Club, he ironically backed its opposition to the Royal Academy. Like many artists, La Thangue continued to visit France. This work was probably painted outdoors in Provence, which became his favourite region around 1900. Purchased 1901.7