By this time she was far from being squeamish, being a mother of eight children herself, and took a close interest in the troops more serious wounds. This scene took place on 3 March 1855 and was witnessed by Barrett himself, although the painting was finished much later. This work was funded alongside another by the same artist, 'The Mission of Mercy', depicting Florence Nightingale receiving the wounded at Scutari. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

Provenance

Bought from the artist by Thomas Agnew, 1857; bought by Sir Edward Bates, 1859; thence by family descent; Christie's 1993.