A finely painted landscape scene of cattle near a Willow tree and stream by Thomas Baker of Leamington. As some of the cows take rest under the tree or drink from the stream, others graze in the meadow beyond. A sketch of this painting appears in Baker’s diary no, 723. It was completed by the artist in December 1860 and purchased from him by a Mr Day in January, 1862. A preliminary watercolour sketch of this work can be found at Leamington Art Gallery & Museum.

Thomas Baker was a Midlands landscape painter born on 9 October, 1809 in Harborne, Birmingham. He studied under Vincent Barber (1788-1838) at the Barber family's Charles Street Academy in Birmingham and started exhibiting from 1827. He painted the landscapes of Warwickshire, the Midlands and Wales usually with the inclusion of cattle and sheep and became known as “Baker of Leamington” or “Landscape Baker”. He signed each major picture “T Baker” and kept detailed records of all of his works along with diaries and notes, which are now held in the Birmingham City Art Gallery.

He exhibited at the Birmingham Society of Artists, the Royal Academy from 1831 – 1858, the British Institution and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists. Many of his works sold through ‘Carver & Gilders’ in Leamington and he gained many major patrons such as Lord Leigh; however he also supplemented his income by providing artistic tuition.

At the time of his premature death in Leamington Spa on 10 August, 1864, he had achieved considerable artistic acclaim becoming a member of the Birmingham Society of Artists and Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

© Benton Fine Art