George Dunlop Leslie, R.A.

Purchased from the artist by John Hamilton Trist and thence by descent to Herbert Hardwick Trist in 1899 and further descent to Mrs Louisa Mary Trist (née Rigden);
Christie's, 23 April 1937 to 'Fasey';
Fine Art Society, London where purchased by a private collector;
Christie's, 10 June 2003, lot 103, where purchased by the present owner

Royal Academy, 1860, no.578;
Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, 1905, no.421

Times, 17 May 1860, p.578;
Cosmo Monkhouse, 'A Pre-Raphaelite Collection', in Magazine of Art, 1883, p.66, illustrated p.69;
Percy Bate, The English Pre-Raphaelite Painters, 1899, illustrated facing p.90

STRUCTURE This picture is unlined and in very good condition. The colour are bright and although there are small areas of craquelure (notably on the girl's face) these are only visible upon close inspection. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT There are very minor flecked retouchings to the girl's face which have been very well executed. There are other very minor areas of flecked retouching. FRAME Contained in a composite moulded sweep frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

'A lady, wandering through the wood alone,
Singing and culling flower after flower,
Wherewith her pathway was all painted o'er.'
Dante, Purgatorio, Canto 28

Dante's Matilda (Matelda) is usually identified with Matilda, Countess of Tuscany (1046-1115) of the house of Canossa. Leslie depicted her gathering flowers in a beautiful landscape, watched in the distance by Dante, Virgil and Statius. When it was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1860 it was accompanied by a quotation from Psalms; 'For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work; I will triumph in the works of thy hands' (Psalm XCII, 4) The review by Tom Taylor in Times described it as 'a lady reclining in a green garden on the edge of a pool starred with water lilies' and celebrated the 'power of faithful landscape painting and a thoughtful and graceful feeling for female form and character, which promise well for this young painter's future.' It was bought from the artist by John Hamilton Trist (1811-1891) a wine-merchant from Brighton who owned a fine collection of modern paintings, including examples by Albert Moore, Rossetti, Alma-Tadema and Leighton with a  particular taste for the work of Arthur Hughes (he owned twenty examples).