A well-executed landscape painting of cattle at a river by Henry Cheadle. A small herd of cattle are shown resting in a meadow by the side of a river. On the other side of the bank in the distance can be seen sloping hills reminiscent of the river Avon. At the time of this painting, the artist was living at Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham.

Henry Cheadle was a landscape painter born in Birmingham on 16 May 1852 to Henry Cheadle and his wife Matilda (née Wood). His father was a hairdresser and they lived at 2a Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham. Although little can be found about his early education, he is known to have attended the Birmingham School of Art, where he won a number of prizes. He went on to study at the South Kensington Art School (later the Royal College of Art), where he also won awards including silver and bronze medals.

Cheadle began exhibiting at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists in 1871, where he went on to become a member. He also exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists from 1875, the Royal Cambrian Academy, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, Bristol Fine Art Academy as well as at Frost & Reed. He played an active part in the local art societies, becoming curator and later president of the Midlands Art Club. He also became a member of the Birmingham Art Circle where he exhibited up until his death.

By the late 1880’s, he had moved with his parents to 40 Spring Road in Edgbaston. He spent his time travelling around painting the landscapes of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, the Midlands and North Wales. He also visited Newlyn in Cornwall where he painted a number of coastal views. He remained unmarried and lived with his parents until their deaths at the beginning of the 20th century.

He continued living in Birmingham and exhibiting until his death aged 78 on 10 January, 1931. He was buried at Key Hill Cemetery in Birmingham. Some of his paintings were gifted to the Birmingham Museum shortly after his death and hung in the Victorian Room. Two of his works can still be found at the Museum today.

© Benton Fine Art