Who painted In the Hayfield?

In the Hayfield was painted by David Cox in 1831.

Where can I see In the Hayfield?

In the Hayfield is held by Vancouver Art Gallery.

What movement is In the Hayfield?

In the Hayfield is associated with Barbizon school.

Artwork

In the Hayfield

David Cox , 1831

In the Hayfield is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist David Cox. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

About this work

Overview

David Cox created *In the Hayfield* circa 1831, employing oil paint after a career largely built on watercolours. The work belongs to the later phase of his output, when he broadened his practice to include larger, more atmospheric compositions. The painting is part of the Vancouver Art Gallery’s collection, representing a mature example of his landscape focus.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas portrays a quiet rural scene: a hayfield under a cloud‑filled sky, with a small group of figures gathered around a haystack and livestock—horses and sheep—grazing nearby. The composition emphasizes everyday agricultural activity, inviting contemplation of the calm rhythm of countryside life and the subtle interplay of light and weather.

Technique & Style

Cox applies warm, muted tones and soft, blended brushwork to convey the hazy ambience of the open field. The handling of light—filtered through low clouds—creates a gentle illumination that unifies sky, land, and figures. This approach reflects his shift toward a more naturalistic, plein‑air sensibility that anticipates later Impressionist concerns.

History & Provenance

Painted during a period when Cox was aligning with the Barbizon School’s emphasis on direct observation, *In the Hayfield* illustrates his contribution to the Birmingham School of landscape painting. After changing hands through private collections, the work entered the Vancouver Art Gallery, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s British landscape holdings.

Artist & collection

Artist

David Cox

David Cox (29 April 1783 – 7 June 1859) was an English landscape painter, one of the most important members of the Birmingham School of landscape artists and an early precursor of Impressionism.