For the Squatting (also known as 'Little Girl with Broom' or 'Summer Roses')
Print, likely a photogravure or chromolithograph on paper, possibly mounted on board. • Sir John Everett Millais (British, 1829–1896)
Style & Movement
Victorian Academicism / Late Pre-Raphaelite influence
Medium & Technique
Originally oil on canvas; this reproduction uses a mechanical printing process that mimics the soft transitions and color palette of the original oil painting.
Creation Period
Original painting circa 1888; this reproduction is likely from the late 19th to early 20th century.
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 20 x 28 inches; vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
A young girl with reddish-blonde hair wears a white eyelet lace blouse and a red tartan skirt. She holds a large broom, looking slightly towards the viewer. Behind her is a rose bush in bloom with petals falling to the grass, where a small kitten is also visible. The narrative focuses on childhood innocence and the fleeting nature of beauty/youth (symbolized by the falling petals).
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. The image remains clear, but the surface shows significant mechanical stress and aging.
Estimated Market Value
$50 - $150 USD
Auction Estimate
$40 - $100 USD
Provenance History
Likely mass-produced for the Victorian middle-class market. No specific ownership labels are visible, but the marbleized matting suggests mid-20th-century reframing or decorative housing.
Art Historical Significance
Millais was a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, though this work represents his later, more commercially successful 'fancy picture' style. These sentimental depictions of children became quintessential Victorian icons, often used in advertising (e.g., Pears Soap).
Notable Features
The presence of the kitten in the lower left corner and the distinct eyelet lace detail on the girl's garment are hallmarks of Millais' attention to texture and child-centric storytelling.
Condition Issues
Visible vertical and network cracking (craquelure) across the image surface, likely from the brittle nature of the printing ink or varnish over time. Some slight yellowing and surface abrasions are present.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the pigments. If it is a fine print, acidity-free mounting would be used to prevent further paper degradation. Professional cleaning could stabilize the cracking varnish.