19 century collection

Oil on canvas, 51.3 x 68.5cm
Accession Number WAG1632
This work is a tour-de-force of Pre-Raphaelite truth to nature. The boy is knapping flints for road making, a task often given to paupers. Despite this, the boy looks well nourished and the playful dog adds an air of sentimentality to the piece.
The figure, his clothing, the rocks, plants, sky and every detail of the distant Surrey landscape are captured with scientific accuracy. This reflects Brett's interest in the writings of the influential Victorian art critic John Ruskin.