Arthur John Elsley - Before the Bath

signed and dated l.l.: ARTHUR ELSLEY/ 1900; attached to the reverse a letter from the artist's daughter dated 27/12/89 reads:
Thank you for your letter of Dec. 21st and for so kindly sending me your catalogue, received this morning. I think the reproductions are beautifully reproduced and I had never before seen one of "Bathtime". I note the date is 1900, but I was born in 1903, so this little girl was actually an earlier model, who happened to be rather similar. But I expect the collie was this old 'Blue-' of whom they
often spoke. My father's dates were 1860 to 1952/ With best New Year wishes,/ Yours sincerely/ Marjorie Wheatley
oil on canvas
88 by 67cm.; 34½ by 26½in.
ESTIMATE 70,000 - 100,000 GBP

Terry Parker, Golden Hours: The Paintings of Arthur J. Elsley 1860-1952, 1998, illus. p.45