Sophie Anderson ( British 1823-1903) Little Helper

Museum quality genre scene with a little helper was executed in 1872 and due to the inscription on the back of the original canvas it was exhibited in the same year at the exhibition of Society of British artists under No.7 and represented in this exhibition catalogue. The work signed by the artist with monogram and dated : ” S.A. Fl/72″. Due to expertise of expert Mrs. J.Plank from auction house Dorotheum/Vienna and our research this work was executed by British-American painter Sophie Andersen (1823 Paris – 1903 Falmouth, Cornwall). As it‘s known, the artist lived and worked long time in USA and two letters Fl on her signature may refer to Florida as place where the painting was executed. For comparison see additionally images of similar works by Sophie Andersen including “It´s my Turn to play Mother”, signed as our with monogram.

Sophie Gengembre Anderson (Paris 1823 – Falmouth, Cornwall, March 10, 1903) was a Franco-British painter who focused on depicting children and women, often in rural settings. Their works are assigned to the Pre-Raphaelites.She was the daughter of Parisian architect Charles A.C. Gengembre and an English mother. From an early age she studied portrait painting with Carl von Steuben in Paris.At the outbreak of the 1848 Revolution, she moved to Cincinnati, America, where she married British artist Walter Anderson. In 1854 she returned to England. In 1855 she exhibited her works at the Royal Academy. Later she lived on Capri for a long time.

Provenance: French private collection.

Literature: international artist lexicons by Thieme/Becker; Saur; Benezit; Falk, Peter Hastings, ed. Who Was Who in American Art. 3 volume, Sound View Press, 1999; exhibition catalogue of The society of British artists, 1872.

Inscriptions: signed with monogram and creation place (shortening) and dated (18)72.

Technique: oil on canvas, original period gilt frame.

Measurements: unframed w 18 1/8″ x h 24″ (46 x 61 cm); matted and framed w 28″ x h 33 7/8″ (71 x 86 m).

Condition: in very good condition.