Artwork
The Butt: Shooting a Cherry
The Butt: Shooting a Cherry is an oil painting by the Realist artist William Mulready. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
William Mulready’s oil painting, The Butt: Shooting a Cherry, dates from around 1834 and is part of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work portrays a brief, animated moment in a forest clearing, where three children and a dog are caught in a playful exchange involving a cherry.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on two boys—one clutching a ripe cherry, the other reaching to take it—while a young girl watches from the ground. A dog stands nearby, its gaze fixed on the children. The scene captures a fleeting episode of childhood camaraderie and mischief set against a natural backdrop.
Technique & Style
Mulready employs chiaroscuro, contrasting bright illumination with deeper shadows to give the figures a three‑dimensional presence. Warm hues dominate the palette, enhancing the sense of sunlight filtering through the trees. Fine brushwork renders the textures of period clothing, foliage, and the earth, underscoring the artist’s meticulous attention to detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1830s, The Butt: Shooting a Cherry entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. The painting’s provenance prior to acquisition by the museum is not extensively documented, but its inclusion reflects the institution’s interest in 19th‑century British genre scenes.
Context
Mulready, known for his genre paintings of everyday life, often depicted rural or domestic settings with narrative clarity. This work aligns with the period’s fascination with sentimental portrayals of childhood, offering a glimpse into contemporary attire and leisure activities within a pastoral environment.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Mulready was an Irish genre painter living in London. He is best known for his romanticising depictions of rural scenes, and for creating Mulready stationery letter sheets, issued at the same time as the Penny Black postage stamp.
