Ken Danby’s Barton’s House, 1969 is a watercolour on paper measuring 25.25 × 34.5 inches, depicting a solitary rural structure rising from a sweep of autumn grasses. The tall, narrow house stands in quiet contrast to the dense, shadowed foliage behind it, showcasing Danby’s mastery of realism and his ability to capture both the architectural form and the atmosphere of the landscape.

Ken Danby (1940–2007) was one of Canada’s most acclaimed realist painters, known for works that combine meticulous detail with emotional resonance. Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he showed artistic promise from a young age and enrolled at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto in 1958, leaving in 1960 to pursue his own artistic path. Early in his career he experimented with abstract expressionism, but after encountering the work of American realist artists he turned increasingly toward realism, a direction that would define his life’s work. Danby achieved international recognition with paintings such as At the Crease (1972), a photorealistic depiction of a hockey goaltender that became one of the most familiar images in Canadian art.

Throughout his more than four‑decade career, Danby was celebrated not only for his sporting scenes but also for his landscapes, portraits, and country views, all rendered with a dedication to craft and observation. He was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1975 and received numerous honours, including the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. His works are held in major public and private collections, and his influence as a leading realist painter in Canada continues to be recognized.