This quaint 10 x 12 inch oil on canvas by Randolph Stanley Hewton entitled, Quebec Hamlet, Lower St. Lawrence, depicts a small snow covered village nestled in the hills next to the St. Lawrence River. Hewton uses a lot of grey tones to portray an overcast day, but pops of red in the houses add a subtle cheerfulness to the painting. A single figure can be seen in the foreground chopping wood for a fire. The piece, produced circa 1930, perfectly captures the stillness and solitude of the Canadian countryside during the winter months when you can see your breath in the air and feel the cold on your cheeks.

Hewton (1888-1960) was a founding member of the Beaver Hall Group. He was well known for his controversial use of vibrant colour which contributed to the evolving identity of Canadian art at the time.