Until its recent rediscovery, this portrait, though recorded, had never been reproduced, and its appearance was unknown to scholars. It is unsigned and obviously shows few signs of Millais's later style, but its attribution is not in doubt. It is identified in a certificate written by the sitter's niece when she sold it in 1908, and in handling and scale it corresponds closely to a portrait Millais painted of his sister Emily about the same time (family collection and again supported by documents). Both portraits can be dated to c.1843 when the precocious Millais, still aged only thirteen or fourteen, was making his first attempts at oil painting.

The sitter was the wife of William Evamy (born 1804), the younger brother of Millais's mother. There was another brother, John, and the portrait seems to have been inherited by his daughter (and Millais's cousin) Emily, who sold it in 1908 to a Mr Beale. The Evamys were an English family, unlike the Millais who had lived for generations on Jersey.

We are grateful to Dr Malcolm Warner for his help in preparing this entry.