Paper

Student Artwork Guide

The Orchard

Dod Procter, 1934

Name Class Date
Dod Procter, The Orchard (1934). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Dod Procter topimpressionists.com/en/artists/dod-procter/
Artist’s dates
1890 – 1972
Painted
1934
Original size
102 x 127 cm

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Dod Procter died in 1972; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2042. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 4, 2026

The Orchard — Dod Procter Part 1 · The artwork

In context

The Orchard — Dod Procter

How big is it?

The original measures 102 × 127 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1890
  2. 1900
  3. 1910
  4. 1920
  5. 1930
  6. 1940
  7. 1950
  8. 1960
  9. 1970

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 82 at death.

Painted when the artist was 44. The artist lived to 82. 6 of the 13 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Dod Procter (1890–1972) ▲ this work, 1934 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1926 Main working years: 1926–1936 Late works: from 1936

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

  • Self Portrait topimpressionists.com/en/art/dod-procter-self-portrait-AQSGUX-en/
  • Tolcarne Inn, 1935 topimpressionists.com/en/art/dod-procter-tolcarne-inn-AQSGTT-en/
  • Aunt Lilla, 1943 topimpressionists.com/en/art/dod-procter-aunt-lilla-AQSGU7-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/dod-procter-the-orchard-AQSGTR-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Espresso #2c3c3c

    Catalogued palette

    • #2C3C3C
    • #525B55
    • #777872
    • #9E979A

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Main colour name
    Espresso
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Discordant Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Dod Procter over the last twelve months — 4 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 70.0%
    2. 2 Austria 10.0%
    3. 3 United Kingdom 10.0%
    4. 4 Netherlands 10.0%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 10 most looked-at works by Dod Procter

    1. 1 Ancilla with an Orange 18.8%
    2. 2 The Orchard, 1934 this painting 18.8%
    3. 3 Self Portrait 12.5%
    4. 4 Little Sister 12.5%
    5. 5 The Pearl Necklace, 1941 6.2%
    6. 6 Aunt Lilla, 1943 6.2%
    7. 7 Early Morning, Newlyn, 1926 6.2%
    8. 8 Winter Scene from the Artist's House, Newlyn 6.2%
    9. 9 Nasturtiums 6.2%
    10. 10 Sketch of Burmese Children 6.2%

    Together these works take 99.8% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 24 works by this artist, of which 10 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 2 of them, with 18.8% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 4, 2026

    The Orchard — Dod Procter Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Dod Procter

    Born in Hampstead, United Kingdom

    Early Life and Education

    Born: Doris Margaret Shaw, 21 April 1890, Hampstead, United Kingdom

    Died: 31 July 1972

    Nationality: English

    Her father was a ship's doctor and her mother a former art student.

    The family moved to Tavistock, Cornwall in 1907.

    She enrolled at the School of Painting run by Elizabeth Forbes and Stanhope Forbes in Newlyn at age 15.

    Met Laura Knight, who became a lifelong friend and influence.

    Studied at Atelier Colarossi in Paris alongside Ernest Procter.

    Artistic Development and Influences

    Influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism movements.

    Mentored by Elizabeth Forbes and Stanhope Forbes.

    Inspired by artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne.

    Developed a distinctive style characterized by sensual portraits of women and Cornish landscapes.

    Early works included illustrated "Nature Notes" sent to her father at sea.

    Major Works and Achievements

    Morning (1927): Her most famous work, a portrait of a fisherman's daughter that caused a sensation and was bought by the Daily Mail for the Tate Gallery.

    Early Morning: A smaller version of "Morning" held by the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

    Series of simplified, monumental images of young women (c. 1922).

    Commissioned to decorate the Kokine Palace in Rangoon with her husband Ernest Procter.

    Exhibited at the Royal Academy on numerous occasions.

    Awarded "Picture of the Year" at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1927 for “Morning”.

    Later Life and Legacy

    After Ernest's death in 1935, she travelled extensively to the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and Africa.

    Became President of St Ives Society of Artists (STISA) in 1966.

    Member of several artists organizations including the Newlyn School.

    Buried next to her husband at St Hilary Church, Cornwall.

    Her work is recognized for its evocative portrayal of Cornish life and its contribution to early twentieth-century British art.

    Historical Significance

    A prominent figure in the Newlyn School of artists.

    Known for her unique vision and style that captured a sense of modernity.

    Her portrait "Morning" is considered a significant work of 20th-century British art, praised for its “sensuous but sombre style” and depiction of Cornish light.

    Contributed to the development of portraiture in Britain during the early 20th century.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Dod Procter topimpressionists.com/en/artists/dod-procter/
    • Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/dod-procter-the-orchard-AQSGTR-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The Orchard

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/dod-procter-the-orchard-AQSGTR-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Procter, Dod. The Orchard. 1934, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/dod-procter-the-orchard-AQSGTR-en/
    APA
    Procter, Dod (1934). The Orchard [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/dod-procter-the-orchard-AQSGTR-en/
    Chicago
    Dod Procter. The Orchard. 1934. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/dod-procter-the-orchard-AQSGTR-en/
    Harvard
    Procter, Dod (1934) The Orchard. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/dod-procter-the-orchard-AQSGTR-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 4, 2026

    The Orchard — Dod Procter Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    The Orchard — Dod Procter

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Self Portrait, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. Dod Procter was about 44 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?
    5. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Oct. 4, 2026

    The Orchard — Dod Procter Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    How harmonious are the colors of "The Orchard" by Dod Procter?

    The colors of "The Orchard" by Dod Procter show a discordant palette harmony. Harmony describes how the colors relate to each other.

    Does "The Orchard" by Dod Procter use strong contrasts or soft harmonies?

    The color composition of "The Orchard" by Dod Procter combines a gentle contrast with a discordant palette harmony.

    What color saturation does "The Orchard" by Dod Procter have?

    The palette of "The Orchard" is muted in saturation.