Artwork
Woman Gathering Sticks
Woman Gathering Sticks is an unspecified painting by Nathaniel Hone the Younger. It dates from 1881 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Nathaniel Hone the Younger, an Irish painter linked to the 18th‑century artist of the same name, created the canvas *Woman Gathering Sticks* circa 1881. The work is part of the National Gallery of Ireland’s holdings, representing a late‑19th‑century genre scene rendered in a realistic manner.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a solitary woman in a long coat and hat, bent over the forest floor to collect sticks. The setting is a wooded landscape of trees and underbrush, suggesting a rural environment where everyday labour is observed rather than idealised.
Technique & Style
Hone employs a careful modulation of light and shadow to model forms, a practice reminiscent of chiaroscuro that gives the scene depth and three‑dimensionality. The brushwork is detailed, especially in the texture of the woman’s clothing and the foliage, emphasizing a naturalistic approach.
History & Provenance
Since its creation around 1881, the painting has remained in Ireland, eventually entering the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. Its presence there reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving works by Irish artists of the 19th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nathaniel Hone the Younger (26 October 1831 – 14 October 1917) was an Irish painter, the great-grand-nephew of the painter Nathaniel Hone.
