The present work is a study for Clausen's principal Royal Academy exhibit of 1911, The Barn at Deer's Farm (sold Christie's 23 November 1993, lot 20). For the finished oil, the painter made adjustments to the roof rafters and clarified the foreground space. The energetic activities of the labourers, filling sacks, has been simplified in the oil and the dark shadowy figure in the lower right, replaced by a mound of grain and a winnowing machine.
We are grateful to Professor Kenneth McConkey for his help in preparing this catalogue note.