A Doctor Placing His Hand on the Head of a Sick Boy, Outside A Country Cottage. 1898

Ralph Hedley's "A Doctor Placing His Hand on the Head of a Sick Boy, Outside A Country Cottage" (1898) depicts a doctor in a somber setting, offering comfort to a sick boy. The doctor, distinguished by his hat and coat, places his hand on the boy's head, conveying a sense of care and concern. The boy, with a worried expression, sits in a chair outside a rustic cottage, suggesting the isolation and vulnerability of rural life. The composition evokes a sense of realism and pathos, appealing to a Victorian audience interested in depictions of everyday life and social issues.