painting (oil): ["Fisherfolk on the Coast of Normandy"]

Coastal landscape. On the left of the picture is the cliff face and boulders in the foreground. On the left is a woman carrying a basket, dressed in traditional Normandy costume of a white scarf, a red cloak over a dark dress and white apron, and clogs. She is looking at a group of figures in the centre of the picture. A donkey wearing red blinkers and loaded on both sides with baskets, stands with its head bowed. To its right, and leaning in one of the baskets, stands a woman in a dark, wide-rimmed hat, dark coat and clogs. She is talking to two women, also in traditional dress, who are seated on the sand; at their sides are their baskets and a black and white dog. In the middle ground is a ship with its sails furled, grounded on the beach. In the distance is the sea horizon, with fishing vessels just visible. The weather is overcast, and in the top right corner is a black thundercloud. ==== "This painting is probably the second version of a work once in the possession of Lord Townshend (NCM 1928-207), which would explain its slightly deeper tonalities and some repetitive brushwork. The figures are from a sketch in the British Museum (BM 1901-4-17-17)." (Cambridge 2002) Secretan Collection; Sir John Fowler Bart. Collection, 1899. Sir John Fowler; Fowler Sale, Christie’s 6 May 1899, Lot 45, bought Agnew; James Ross; Ross Sale, Christie’s 8 July 1927, Lot 4, bought Nottingham Corporation.