William Powell Frith, R.A. (1819-1909)

Coming of Age in the Olden Time

Details

William Powell Frith, R.A. (1819-1909)
Coming of Age in the Olden Time
signed and dated 'W.P. Frith R.A. 1889' (lower right) and further signed, inscribed and dated 'Paited [sic] by W.P. Frith R.A. 1889.' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
22 5/8 x 36 ¼ in. (57.5 x 92 cm.)
(2)This lot is accompanied by a framed letter from the artist to Thomas Richards dated 20 May 1899.

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 3 March 1993, lot 126.

Sale room notice

Please note this lot is accompanied by a framed letter from the artist to Thomas Richards dated 20 May 1899. Please see Christies.com for further information.

Brought to you by

Charlotte Young

cyoung@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2730

Lot Essay

In the accompanying letter Frith describes the present picture as the only replica 'in existence painted by me' and states that it 'surpasses in my opinion the original in as much as a long experience has taught me to avoid some of the faults in the original…’

This is a smaller version of the artist’s painting Coming of Age, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1849, no. 349. An engraving of exhibited picture, by Francis Holl, was published by the Art Union of Glasgow in 1854.
The background of the picture is based on Hever Castle and Heslington Hall, near York.

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