Benjamin Williams Leader - Kempsey Church on the River Severn

Price Realized £135,750

signed and dated 'B.W. LEADER. 1883.' (lower left); and signed and inscribed 'Kempsey Church on the River Severn B.W. Leader' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
44¼ x 72½ in. (112.5 x 184.2 cm.)

Bought from the artist by Cox, November 1883, £700.

Although in 1883, Leader exhibited other river scenes at the Royal Academy he did not exhibit this picture of Kempsey village and church on the River Severn, Worcestershire. It was the first time that he had painted this particular subject and in 1889 he chose the same scene again for another large work entitled Sabrina's Stream (Sabrina was the Roman name that was given to the River Severn) which was a Royal academy exhibit. A study was sold at Sotheby's, London, 22 March 2000, lot 278 (£85,100).

We are grateful to Ruth Wood for her help in the preparation of this catalogue entry.