Duty 1880

"Duty", a painting by Heywood Hardy from 1880, depicts a scene of an elderly man on horseback, riding away from a young boy and his dog. The figure of the man is the main subject and the action of the scene seems to be him waving goodbye to the boy. The man is wearing a dark coat, a hat, and riding boots. The horse is brown with black mane and tail. The boy stands in the foreground, waving a stick and dressed in a brown coat and red scarf. The dog looks on with the boy. The painting is a poignant depiction of a farewell, showcasing a sense of duty and a feeling of loss. The scene's setting appears to be rural and it is painted in a realistic style, capturing the light and shadows of the countryside.