Sir William Nicholson (1872-1949)

This is a scene in Wiltshire near Sutton Veny, or on the Somerset Levels - perhaps on a sunny winter's day as the colourful branches of the red willows are clearly visible, devoid of leaves. There is standing water in the field where the white and tan cattle are grazing in the sunshine. Nicholson uses a composition of parallel planes interrupted in the foreground by the use of blocky paint to depict the remains of a wall. Behind there is the line of the river, then the bank, the pollarded willow trees in the middle distance, and an enclosed field beyond. The converging shadows are intriguing. The composition recalls the earlier Hilder's Patch (private collection) of 1921, where the shadows of the line of trees are radiating out towards the picket fence.

The branches of the red willow are used for basket-making, which formerly included eel traps and cradles, and hurdles to form cattle pens.

Red Willows has not been seen in public since 1948.

We are very grateful to Patricia Reed for preparing the catalogue entries for lots 165 and 166.