William Shayer Sr. (1787–1879) English, Oil on Board Genre Scene "Toy Boat". Oil painting featuring three young boys playing at the water's edge on a beach, presented in a heavily carved and gilded frame.

Overall Size: 13 1/2 x 12 in.
Sight Size: 7 1/2 x 6 in.

William Shayer (1787–1879) was an English painter associated with the Norwich School, best known for his lively rural landscapes and scenes of horses, coaches, and everyday country life. Born in Southampton, he was largely self-taught and spent most of his career painting the countryside and coastal areas of southern England, particularly around Hampshire. Shayer developed a reputation for detailed depictions of coaching scenes, gypsy encampments, and rustic figures set within expansive landscapes, combining careful observation of animals with atmospheric landscape painting. His works were widely exhibited at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts and the British Institution, and his success led to a family tradition of artists, including his son William Shayer the Younger, who continued painting similar rural subjects.

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