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Lot Essay
This painting was tremendously popular in its day, and led Morgan to produce a later version in oils, an oil sketch, a watercolour, and a pen and ink drawing for his admirers. A large Parian Ware bisque figure, featuring the composition, and entitled 'Never Mind!' was also widely reproduced.
The models are two of the artist's children, Lily, aged 9, (borne Lilian Emmeline, on 5 January 1875) and Reggie, aged 3 (born Reginald Frederick, on 3 January 1881). Their doll is most likely of French papier-mache.
The painting serves as a poignant reminder to the children's estranged parents. Their mother, the talented painter and illustrator Alice Havers (1850-1890) moved out of the marital home in the summer of 1883. Having married in 1872, the couple divorced in Paris in 1889.
Morgan also painted a second less-finished version, signed but not dated and measuring 27 3/4 x 36 in. which was exhibited at the Nottingham Castle Museuem 1885, no. 65, and offered with a price of £125, and later exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery Liverpool, no. 901. This version was sold with the title 'The Consolation' at Christie's New York, 11 November 1998, lot 47.
Two years after painting the current picture, Morgan painted an oil sketch measuring 10 x 13 in., signed and dated 1886. It was sold at Christie's London, 5 November, 1982, lot 142, together with a letter to T Graham (presumably the Scottish painter Thomas Graham RSA, dated 3 June 1886). A watercolour version, priced at £25 was exhibited at Glasgow, in 1888, no. 883.
The models are two of the artist's children, Lily, aged 9, (borne Lilian Emmeline, on 5 January 1875) and Reggie, aged 3 (born Reginald Frederick, on 3 January 1881). Their doll is most likely of French papier-mache.
The painting serves as a poignant reminder to the children's estranged parents. Their mother, the talented painter and illustrator Alice Havers (1850-1890) moved out of the marital home in the summer of 1883. Having married in 1872, the couple divorced in Paris in 1889.
Morgan also painted a second less-finished version, signed but not dated and measuring 27 3/4 x 36 in. which was exhibited at the Nottingham Castle Museuem 1885, no. 65, and offered with a price of £125, and later exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery Liverpool, no. 901. This version was sold with the title 'The Consolation' at Christie's New York, 11 November 1998, lot 47.
Two years after painting the current picture, Morgan painted an oil sketch measuring 10 x 13 in., signed and dated 1886. It was sold at Christie's London, 5 November, 1982, lot 142, together with a letter to T Graham (presumably the Scottish painter Thomas Graham RSA, dated 3 June 1886). A watercolour version, priced at £25 was exhibited at Glasgow, in 1888, no. 883.