Approaching Thunderstorm, Flocks Driven Home, Picardy, France 1889

"Approaching Thunderstorm, Flocks Driven Home, Picardy, France" by Henry William Banks Davis depicts a dramatic scene of sheep being herded home by a shepherd and his dog as a storm approaches. The 1889 oil painting captures the energy of the approaching storm with a dark, foreboding sky and swirling clouds, while the shepherd and his dog are small figures in the distance, signifying the dominance of nature. The painting showcases Davis's keen observation of rural life, utilizing naturalism to depict the animals' behavior and the landscape of the French countryside. The composition creates a sense of urgency, as the sheep are driven together in a protective formation, while the single dog races towards the approaching danger.