George Arthur Hays (1854-1945). "Sheep Grazing", 1901. Oil on canvas. Signed lower left. Titled and dated on canvas, verso. Dimensions: 11" x 14". House in original frame: 19" x 22". Hays' paintings embody a genre of paintings typical to the Civil War era, ones that look towards the unity found in early America, especially through a rural lens. His paintings portray animals as enduring and uncomplaining, representing the strength and backbone of the country. Hays painted this genre throughout his lifetime, continuously finding scenes of cattle and sheep as important to keep alive in the eyes of the viewers. Even today, his paintings harken back to rural America. George Arthur Hays was born in New Hampshire in 1854, but spent his adult life in Providence as a self-taught artist. The Providence that Hays lived inhabited was one that had shifted from a rural to urban setting. Living in an urban world, Hays created paintings that reflected the rural world, giving nature and animals a sense of importance. Hays typically painted in oils and watercolor, creating peaceful and stable paintings of cattle and sheep. His paintings show the influence of the Barbizon School and French animal portraiture, as he often uses rich colors. Never painting sheep and cattle together, Hays gives the animals a sense of dignity, as they are integral to rural life. Exhibiting from 1888-1940 in the Providence Art Club, Hays’ paintings were often noted for their tranquility and bucolic settings.

Good. Canvas restored & in excellent condition. Original frame needs restoration.

19 x 22 in

3 lb