The immediate impact of Richard Ansdell's (English Painter 1815-1885) painting is the business and busy-ness of the work at hand. Richard had obviously sat on a boulder near the water; recording the action with vigour. Sheep washing was an essential annual ritual in the life of the shepherd in the 1800s. More details of the story and why the sheep wash are on the back of the notecard. Blank inside. Card is 8 1/4 x 6"."