As the first rays of summer sun flatter to deceive over Cheshire, this charming painting by one of Warrington&rsquo;s famous sons takes us from the North-west of England to the warmer climes of North-west Italy. Henry Woods was born in Warrington, the son of William Woods, pawnbroker and councillor, and Fanny, a shopkeeper. It was a happy family of nine children, in which Henry was the eldest. Henry&rsquo;s talent was spotted early and he was offered a scholarship at the prestigious South Kensington School of Art (now the Royal College of Art.) A few years after graduation he left England and followed his heart to Venice, a country and culture with which he had become fascinated. For the remainder of his life he focused on painting scenes of everyday Venetian life. This painting is one such view although it is, of course, idealised. The girls&rsquo; fresh faces, pale skin and immaculate clothing suggest that despite hailing from the working classes they are unaccustomed to a life of toil. While the artist doesn&rsquo;t present us with the young ladies&rsquo; identities he gives an intimate snapshot of their life. Taking shelter from the midday Venetian sun the pair sit on a ledge of a veranda which overlooks a garden. The women are clearly comfortable in each other&rsquo;s presence. One is taking a brief rest, her elbow resting on the large basket of vegetables she has beenWHY YOU SHOULD SEE THIS PAINTING Henry Woods took his talents from the streets of Warrington to the canals of Venice and, on the way, learnt to capture tender moments. This painting presents a snapshot of the lives of two young women as they prepare for adulthood. carrying. The other is busy sewing what we know from the painting&rsquo;s title to be a communion veil, but which also resembles a wedding veil. She seems to be captured mid-conversation, perhaps sharing her thoughts about the upcoming ceremony with her friend and confidante. Genre paintings such as this were hugely popular in Britain throughout the Victorian era and into the twentieth century, bucking the trend for the more modernist paintings popular on the continent.Woods spent the last years of his life living at the Calcina Hotel near the Zattere promenade. The hotel still stands although it&rsquo;s not quite as grand as when Woods was a resident. He spent his final hours painting at the Doge&rsquo;s Palace where he was found dead at his easel by a gondolier.Warrington Museum and Art Gallery is on Bold Street, Warrington. It is open daily and admission is free.

Appreciating Art

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Cheshire Life

Home From Home For Christmas

LAUREN SIMON

LOUISE MINCHIN 

KALINI KENT

AT HOME WITH Dave Lister, Lloyd Mullaney, Trunk of Funkster CRAIG CHARLES

CLARE MACKINTOSH

Suits you 

Swamp thing

An autumn stroll with Darcy and Elizabeth

A BRUSH WITH CHESHIRE

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