Arthur Hughes (British, 1832-1915)
Portrait of Mrs Waring Finch and two of her children
signed and dated 'ARTHUR HUGHES-1872' (lower right)
oil on canvas
112 x 132cm (44 1/8 x 51 15/16in).
Footnotes:
Provenance
Commissioned by Charles Waring Finch of Woodleigh House, Cheriton Bishop.
Thence by descent to his daughters.
Thence by descent through the family.

Literature
L. Roberts, Arthur Hughes, his Life and Works, Woodbridge, 1997, cat. no. 124, p. 182, ill. p. 96, pl.70.

The sitters in the present lot are Mrs Charles Waring Finch and two of her children, Edith and Charles, Jr. According to family tradition, the pendant worn by Mrs Finch remained in the family's possession. Hughes also painted a portrait of Charles Waring Finch in 1873 (cat. no. 129).

The Finch family owned a number of Arthur Hughes's works, including A Passing Cloud, (cat. no. 328), which Margaret Finch purchased from Hughes for £60. Margaret had initially offered Hughes £75, but the artist returned the cheque, writing 'But, but, but, I cannot accept £75 from you....Dear Margaret, about the price: this is the final word.'1

1L. Roberts, Arthur Hughes, his Life and Works, Woodbridge, 1997, p. 226.