Thomas Faed, R.A 1826-1900

STRUCTURE: The canvas has been relined and there is a thick varnish. There are minor frame abrasions at the extremed edges under the frame. Otherwise, the paint surface is in very good stable condition. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT: There is evidence of a small repair to the feet of the boy on the right and minor touches below him on the floor. The opaque varnish prevents further examination but there may be other very minor touches. FRAME: Held in a decorative moulded frame in fairly good condition. SUMMARY: This is a very good version of the artist's best known composition, in very good condition and highly recommended. The painting should also benefit from having the varnish removed.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Mitherless Bairn was Thomas Faed's most celebrated work, despite being very badly hung low on the wall at the Royal Academy exhibition of 1855. It was felt that although Faed had clearly based his picture of an orphan boy seeking sanctuary with a cottage family, upon precedent by Wilkie, he had surpassed the older artist's achievements. The public and the press clamoured to view the picture and hailed it as one of the great successes of the year. It was reported that one wealthy and highly respected Marquis had to be helped back onto his feet after falling to his knees in front of the picture in rapturous admiration.  

The painting reflects the interest at the time of the plight of the rural poor and their beneficent acts of charity. These themes of destitution, homelessness and poverty were the subjects which Faed painted with greatest success and prints of his paintings sold in the many thousands. His approach to the subjects was more romantic than realistic but the palatable social commentary of his paintings was widely admired. The Mitherless Bairn was inspired by a poem written by a Scottish weaver named William Thorn:

Her spirit that pass'd in yon hour of his birth,
Still watches his wearisome wand'rings on earth,
Recording in heaven the blessings they earn,
Wha outhilie deal wi'the mitherless bairn!

Oh! Speak him nae harshly - he trembles the while -
He bends to your bidding and blesses your smile!
In their dark hour o' anguish, the heartless shall learn
That God deals the blow for the mitherless bairn!

The first version of Faed's The Mitherless Bairn and its companion Home and Homeless painted in 1855 and 1856, were in the famous collection of the great social reformer and art collector Angela Burdett-Coutts. Home and Homeless is now at the National Gallery of Scotland (a smaller version is also known) whilst The Mitherless Bairn is at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. The success of the painting led to many requests for versions of the painting from private collectors. Other reduced replicas of The Mitherless Bairn are at the Smith Art Gallery in Brighouse and the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.