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Lot Essay
This is a study for a portrait of Southall's future wife, Anna Elizabeth Butler, painted in tempera on panel in 1895. The picture was included in the 1980 exhibition, no. E8, and is illustrated in the catalogue.
The artist and his model were first cousins and had known each other since childhood. They delayed marrying for many years because of their close blood relationship, but were finally wedded on 23 June 1903 when they were both in their early forties.
The artist and his model were first cousins and had known each other since childhood. They delayed marrying for many years because of their close blood relationship, but were finally wedded on 23 June 1903 when they were both in their early forties.