Children playing playing with a greyhound at the edge of a meadow

Like lots 36, 38 and 39, the watercolour is typical of those Smythe made in the French countryside and often sent for exhibition in London. All demonstrate the lightness of touch and pearly, opalescent colouring that are so characteristic of his style. For another example, very different in composition but similar in approach, see Victorian Landscape Watercolours, exh, Yale, Cleveland and Birmingham, 1992-3, cat. no. 103, illustrated.

The greyhound seems to be 'Spider', a dog adopted by the Smythe family who also appears in lot 34.

A more finished version of the same subject, signed and dated 1884, was sold at Sotheby's, London, on 27 April 1988, lot 263.