John Henry Mole (1814-1886) - Rustic landscape with girl carrying wood

A highly finished watercolour by Mole of a peasant girl carrying wood in a mountainous moor landscape. The artist became a full member of New Society of Painters in Water-Colours (which is now known as the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours) in 1848. Our work dated 1852, was created a few years after his new membership and could possibly have been an exhibition piece for the society given its detail. 
 
Mole was particularly skilled at landscape painting and his works often reflected this. He would use picturesque backdrops including from Northumberland, the Lake District and Scotland in his pictures. A work sold at Bonhams on 9th July 2009 (lot 568) titled 'The Young Angler' bears a strong resemblence to the composition of our picture. In a similar style to Joshua Cristall, Mole, would depict rural characters who were often ignored within society, but were important to the backbone of the country. This would include the harvest workers, peat gatherers, fishing communities and in our watercolour a peasant collecting wood for her family.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper, signed and dated l.r. 'J.M. Mole 1852', 28 x 20 cm, framed.
 
Provenance: Fry Gallery, 58 Jermyn Street, London (label verso); Private collection, England.
 
Condition report: the watercolour is in excellent condition. The frame shows some wear and a few chip marks.