William John Leech, R.H.A. (1881-1968)

As preparatory studies for larger works Leech often painted on small, portable panels. As in the present work, these are fresh and spontaneous works capturing a fleeting moment in bold brushstrokes of vibrant colour. It is not the small rowing boat that has inspired the artist, but the shadows caught on the bend in the river and the dramatic juxtaposition of dark and light in the water. A similar small panel A rowing boat in Regent's Park is in the collection of the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin.