Sketch of the farmyard, Litcombe Bowers, August 1878.

William James Herschel returned home in 1878 after 25 years in the Indian civil service. That summer he went on a sketching holiday with S. E. Hardcastle. Though the picture is signed only S. E. H. another sketch in the collection [PAD3712] identifies an S. E. Hardcastle and so it seems likely that the H here refers to Hardcastle rather than Herschel. Hardcastle was the surname of William's wife. It was also William's sister Maria Sophia's married name. William James and S. E. H. often sketched the same scene, evidently sitting side by side taking in the same view. This gives us a unique opportunity to compare their ability and technique and learn something of their comparative artistic education.