Joseph Edward Worrall

Christie's, London, 29 July 1977, lot 64, where bought by Sir David Scott

Liverpool Institution of Fine Arts, 1863, no. 148

STRUCTURE Original canvas in stable condition. PAINT SURFACE Very light scattered craquelure to places and a very faint stretcher mark running around the periphery. A very small chip to the paint surface to the right of the girl's head. Also some thinning of the paint to the lower left corner, obscuring a small part of the signature. ULTRAVIOLET UV light reveals very fine scattered strokes of retouching to the girl's arms, face and clothing. Also some scattered fine retouching to the right hand border of the sky, hills and seas in the background and to some patches of grass in the foreground. FRAME Held in a decorative gold composite frame with very minor loss to the moulding. Under glass and unexamined out of frame.
"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."

Joseph Edward Worrall belonged to a group of painters in Liverpool who formed an important offshoot of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. They were greatly influenced by the work of Millais, Holman Hunt and Madox Brown, which they first encountered at the exhibitions of the Liverpool Academy. Other members of the Liverpool School were William Lindsay Windus, William Davis, Daniel Alexander Williamson, John L. Lee, and James Campbell. The group generally painted landscapes and genre subjects, often with Pre-Raphaelite intensity and minute detail. Worral's work is seldom seen and the present subject depicting a local girl with a basket of fish, which was exhibited in Liverpool in 1863, is a most accomplished example.