Benjamin Williams Leader RA (United Kingdom, 1831-1923) oil on canvas landscape painting depicting a man, woman and child on the bank of a river, foreground, rolling hills and trees below a cloudy blue sky, middle and background. Signed and dated "B. W. Leader 1899" lower right. Housed in a gilt wood frame with a lamb's tongue rabbet edge. Sight - 15 1/4" H x 23 1/4" W. Framed - 20 1/8" H x 28 1/4" W. Late 19th century. Biography: Son of Mr. E. Leader Williams, C.E., Benjamin Williams Leader was born at Worcester on March 12, 1831. He received his earliest instruction in art at the School of Design in his native city. In 1854 he was admitted a student in the Royal Academy, and in the same year exhibited his first picture, "Cottage Children Blowing Bubbles," which was bought for 50 pounds by an American gentleman. Two years later Mr. Leader visited Scotland, having until then seen no hills higher than the Malverns. He became become a popular delineator of mountain scenery, Wales and Switzerland being his favorite sketching-grounds. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy, Jan. 16, 1883, and exhibited pictures in the Royal Academy beginning in 1856. Several of his pictures were etched by Chauvel and Brunet-Debaines. He received the Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition, 1889, and was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. (source: Men and Women of the Time, A Dictionary of Contemporaries by George Washington Moon, G. Routledge, London, New York, p. 542).