.. you remember that old barn I took you into
through a very dirty farmyard. I have painted that – you said I should do it
with the tempera colours, but I wanted to begin it at once, it has the effect
of a church, and some mysterious rite going on. The sunlight is all outside and
the barn is lighted by reflection from the small sunlit yellow straw on the
ground. I have not yet finished it. I find it one of those things which must be
done to a large extent from recollection. I can get the facts working direct
from nature, but the "envelope" – the sentiment – the feeling of
surprise that a beautiful thing always gives you: that always has to come from
within.
Dat schreef George Clausen aan de Deense kroonprins, een goede vriend van hem, naar aanleiding van dit schilderij. De prins was zelf een amateurschilder en bezocht met Clausen het platteland van Essex. Het werk is te koop bij Bonhams te Londen.
