Sidney Richard Percy (1822-1886) was a British Naturalist painter who focused on capturing the beauty of the countryside, often featuring landscapes from Wales, Yorkshire, and the Scottish Highlands. Despite a lack of formal training, he exhibited frequently at major British art venues, including the Royal Academy. Furthermore, his work was collected by the British aristocracy, all the way up to Queen Victoria. There’s just something about a royal connection. This painting exemplifies the classic English taste for a detailed pastoral scene, one that draws the eye along a wooded path that leads into the distance. In the foreground, at a stream’s edge are two girls in conversation, one of whom carries a small bucket. The other, the seated girl, is pointing back toward the horizon, as if giving directions. Born Sidney Richard Williams, the artist changed his last name to Percy to distinguish his work from that of his father and brothers, who were also well-known artists. Image dimensions: 19.25" h x 29.25" w