A Helping Hand

The picture was reproduced in an American colour calendar manufactured by Thos. D. Murphy Co. in 1916. Elsley usually worked from photographs and sketchs in his studio, and all three characters in this work appear in other paintings by the artist. The girl is believed to be his daughter Marjorie, whom he included in many of his works. The old man and the dog both appear in Elsley's The Punch and Judy Show; he was a carpenter who lived in an adjoining street to the artist. The collie was called Old Scenter and his owner lived opposite Elsley in Regent's Park. The boy has never been identified but appears in several works including Guarding the Stile, painted the following year. The horse appears in Won't you fix my horse too?, reproduced for another of the calendar editions produced in 1915.

We are grateful to Terence Parker for his help in the preparation of this and the following catalogue entries.