A traditional theme in genre painting, but also seen in children’s portraits, are children interacting with their pets. Pets, then and now, were given to children to encourage responsibility and even empathy toward other creatures. Pictures in the theme Maine Haylofts (13.7) also include children and pets. —PH
Hills, 2021: There is a discrepancy between the dimensions listed in the catalogue of the 1907 sale of Johnson's estate and the actual dimensions of the painting. However, both the recto and verso match the description of 1907 Sale no. 40. It is likely that the dimensions were misstated in the catalogue.
Although John I. H. Baur owned and annotated a copy of the catalogue of Johnson's 1907 Estate Sale, he did not include this work in his own 1940 catalogue listing; he must have obtained it after publication.
"Signed at the lower right, E. J.
Height, 20 inches; width, 11 inches."
[Annotation “70.00”]
- Subject matter:
- Rabbits »