Henry Lejeune, A.R.A.

Mrs Robert Frank, where bought by Sir David Scott for £40

STRUCTURE The board is sound. PAINT SURFACE In good overall condition. ULTRAVIOLET UV light reveals no visible retouching FRAME Held in a decorative gilded composite frame with some loss to the mouldings.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This picture of a tired child appears to depict the same young sitter that appears in a painting entitled After Drill in which a boy has fallen asleep on a cushion and a leopard skin with his arm draped across a toy cannon. The British artist Henry Le Jeune made a speciality of painting pictures depicting children with titles including Little Bo-Peep and Tickled with a Straw. He exhibited at the Royal Academy  and at the British Institution from the 1840s when he painted a number of biblical and historical subjects, but soon abandoned this in favour of a more commercial career in painting genre subjects. The present painting is a particularly beautiful and tender example of his work. In 1845 he became a drawing master at the Royal Academy and in 1848 he was elevated to the position of Curator. He became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1863. Lejeune's work can now be seen in many museums and collections, including the Manchester City and Salford Art Galleries.