Artwork
La Sieste : Scene in the Eastern Pyrenees
La Sieste : Scene in the Eastern Pyrenees is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Richard Beavis. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
La Sieste: Scene in the Eastern Pyrenees is a watercolour by Richard Beavis, signed and dated. It presents a serene rural scene.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a weary man resting beside two oxen, with a covered wagon and a third ox in the background. The composition includes chickens and a weathered wooden fence, conveying a sense of rural labour and repose.
Technique & Style
Beavis's use of light and shadow creates a nuanced representation of the scene, highlighting the textures of the animals' coats and the man's clothing. The contrast between light and dark areas evokes the warmth of the day.
History & Provenance
An oil painting by Beavis, nearly identical to this watercolour, was sold at Christie's auction on 18 July 1913 as Lot 28.
Artist & collection
Artist
Richard Beavis made quiet watercolours of everyday scenes across Britain and Europe.
- On the road. Death or a migrant.
Sancho Panza recovers his lost donkey
Eastern Soldiers with a Horse Drinking
Meeting on a Bridge
In the farmyard
A Street in Tangiers
A Team of Horses
Harvest Scene
Blacksmiths
Oxen before a Farmhouse at Le Verrier
Oxen before a Farmhouse at Le Verrier
At the Capuchin Monastery in Rome