3-046-558 - Royal Academy of Arts, London/Heritage Images

The Sleeping Model, 1853. Frith encountered many problems when he asked the orange-seller to visit his studio. As a devout Catholic she insisted that he gained permission from her priest. The priest refused but Frith persisted until he won her over. But, not being a professional model, she kept snoozing during sittings and the intended picture of a laughing model became 'The Sleeping Model'.