3-028-820 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"The Patient," by P. E. Frere, in the International Exhibition, 1871. Engraving of a painting. 'It is said that M. Frère successively converts these humble dwellings into his atelier...While the adult owners of each cottage are away during the day at their field labour, the little ones of the family are left at home, and thus the artist has also opportunities for familiarising himself with the ways of children, with which he evidently feels great sympathy...We suppose that he had been quietly engaged at his easel till they had entirely forgotten his presence; otherwise they could hardly have enacted their parts with such utter unconsciousness and complete composure. What has happened to the doll that it should require medical treatment we are unable to say...these little rogues are now, doubtless, imitating the mother's administration of medicine to themselves or a younger babe...Mothers and fathers all the world over will be at no loss to recall the discovery of some such pranks as this having been played, in their absence, with the family pharmacopoeia or stock of condiments...It is, however, given to few artists to render subjects of this kind with such perfect naturalness, with such unaffected sympathy...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.