William Powell Frith, R.A.

Sale: London, May 4, 1889, lot 139
James B. Andrew, Esq., 1951
Peter Nahum, London

London, Royal Academy, 1888, no. 26

H. Blackburn, Royal Academy Notes, 1888, p. 1, reproduced pl. 23
Royal Academy Illustrated, 1888, p. 16
Art Journal, 1888, p. 181
Punch, July 14, 1888, p. 16

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting is in beautiful condition. The canvas has an old glue lining which nicely stabilizes the surface. The paint layer is very slightly uneven in the sky but is otherwise stable. The surface is most likely quite dirty and will respond well to cleaning. There do not appear to be any damages or retouches. The picture is in beautiful state with potential for brightness as a result of cleaning.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Julian Treuherz writes: "The Victorian city, with its crowds of people of all classes indiscriminately thrown together, became an acceptable subject for painters towards the end of the 1850s.  In the panoramic canvases of W.P. Frith, G.E. Hicks and Arthur Boyd Houghton the poor made their appearance, but the central concern of these artists was to paint the crowd and its contrasts of dress and social type, of rich and poor, rather than to draw attention to social problems" (Hard Times, 1987, p. 29). Frith began his career as a portrait painter, using his family members as models, and later became best known for his ambitious multi-figure compositions featuring scenes from contemporary life.  Social critique was a common theme in his work and perhaps encouraged by his good friend, the novelist Charles Dickens.  It is believed that Frith worked on the idea of Poverty and Wealth some time before it was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888. A painting of the same title dated 1880, 13 by 22 inches, oil on canvas, was shown at the Frith Exhibition, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, 1951, no. 43, lent by James B. Andrew Esq.