William Powell Frith, R.A. (1819-1909)

In the accompanying letter Frith describes the present picture as the only replica 'in existence painted by me' and states that it 'surpasses in my opinion the original in as much as a long experience has taught me to avoid some of the faults in the original…’

This is a smaller version of the artist’s painting Coming of Age, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1849, no. 349. An engraving of exhibited picture, by Francis Holl, was published by the Art Union of Glasgow in 1854.
The background of the picture is based on Hever Castle and Heslington Hall, near York.