Joanna Mary (Boyce) Wells 1831-1861

Possibly London, Royal Academy, 1860, No.466

The canvas is original. There is a vertical line to the centre of the upper edge where it seems the canvas has split but has been repaired. There are variousspots of paint lifting and paint loss to the shoulder of the male figure. There are various area of old retouching due to old damages in the upper left section. There is evidence of repaired damage and restoration to the reverse of the canvas although the work has not been patched. There is craquelure to the paint surface. Ultra violet light reveals retouching to the upper left quarter underneath a heavy varnish. Held in a simple gold painted slip frame.
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Joanna Wells (née Boyce) was the sister of the artist George Price Boyce and married Henry Tanworth Wells. George Price Boyce was a friend of many artists of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, an important connection which greatly influenced his sister's work.