The End of a Day's Work, by Inglis Sheldon-Williams (1870-1940). 1930. Watercolour on paper. 9.75 x 12.75 in. (24.8 x 32.4 cm). Signed and dated lower left; titled on a frame-mounted plaque. Provenance: Roberts Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; collection of James E. Lanigan (Calgary AB), noted art collector and historian specializing in early Saskatchewan art. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
With the lightest of touches, Sheldon-Williams shows a riderless carthorse patiently (perhaps wearily) following another horse along a wide path. The rider of the other horse is looking back, seemingly waiting for the slower horse to catch up. It is still daylight, but the title explains the serenity of the scene, indicating that they are homeward bound, back to the farm after the day's work has been accomplished.
Created 6 March 2025