Ploughing dates from 1929/30 when Moody, aged 24, was beginning to experiment with larger canvases. He undertook numerous sketches around Surbiton and Kingston (then still rural & where his family lived), in particular of tree shapes and lines – which form the background to the painting. The horse and the crow are careful studies in themselves. The ploughman is undoubtedly a self-portrait  and is allegorical. It’s a pastoral scene (reminiscent of the earlier Arts and Crafts movement) representing the connection between man, beast and nature – the young ploughman methodically toiling the soil in preparation for new growth and the promise of a good harvest. Of all his paintings, this was John Moody’s largest and most iconic.

Moody was
trained at the Royal Academy Schools, co-founded the New Kingston Group of painters and taught at
Wimbledon School of Art in the early 1930’s. However he is better remembered as a theatre and opera
producer as well as Director of the Arts Council’s Drama department. He took over Eric Ravilious’s and
Edward Bawden’s studio in the late 1920’s and he worked closely with Robert Medley and John Piper. He
was badly injured during the Blitz which affected his painting ability, which is why his early work is
particularly interesting.

We are grateful to Richard Thompson for assistance.