Henrietta Rae

Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumbria University, Hidden Treasures, The Sena Collection, 2007, not numbered

STRUCTURE This picture is relined and in excellent original condition with strong colours throughout. There are no signs of craquelure and the paint surface appears to be stable and clean. The picture is ready to hang. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT There are small areas of retouching to the kneeling girl on the right and to the standing girl behind her. There are also minor retouchings to the white area to the left of Venus and other very minor flecked retouchings elsewhere. These retouchings are not excessive and not visible to the naked eye. FRAME The picture is contained in a simple gilt 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."

Psyche Before the Throne of Venus depicts the young maiden of Greek mythology, who, following her abandonment by Cupid who she had disobeyed, is found by the hand-maidens of Venus and brought in chains before the throne of the goddess. Venus was enraged by Psyche's ill-treatment of her son, and the inconsolable girl is thrown at her feet to plead for mercy whilst the Goddess of Love glares down from her dais above. Psyche becomes Venus' slave and is set a series of seemingly impossible tasks which she manages to complete and is finally forgiven by Venus. The story was re-told in William Morris' Earthly Paradise.   

In 1892 Rae began painting Psyche Before the Throne of Venus at the studio she inhabited in Holland Park close to that of Frederic Leighton. The classicism of the picture owes much to Leighton's grandiose conception of mythology and he gave Rae much encouragement and criticism (sometimes brutally honest) regarding the picture as it developed. The painting measured ten feet by six feet and it was soon clear that the small studio could not accommodate the painting and she was lent the larger studio of another mentor Sir William Blake Richmond. She later took a studio at Norwood in south London and continued to work upon the large painting, eventually finishing it in 1894. The painting received mixed reviews at the Royal Academy exhibition of 1894 but was bought for the prestigious collection of the Scottish mining engineer George McCulloch. Unfortunately the whereabouts of the oil painting are now unknown and the picture is only known from contemporary photographs and the present spontaneous and richly-coloured sketch.