Artist: Augustus Edwin Mulready (1844–1904)
Title: A London Street Scene
Date: 1900
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 41 x 20.5 cm
Provenance: Sale, Christie's, South Kensington, 21 April 2009, Interiors, lot 166
Condition Report: Holes in the upper panel and peeling paint on the lower left panel.
Signature: Signed and dated "A.E. Mulready, 1900" (lower right), further signed and titled twice on the reverse.

Description
This evocative oil painting by Augustus Edwin Mulready captures a poignant moment of daily life in Victorian London. Depicting two young flower girls by a public water fountain, the artwork reflects Mulready’s deep engagement with social realism. The girl leaning against the fountain gazes outward with a mixture of hope and weariness, while her companion kneels to arrange freshly cut pink roses in a wooden crate. The bustling cityscape in the background, with well-dressed passersby and a shopfront under an awning, contrasts with the humble existence of the street sellers. Mulready’s attention to detail, rich color palette, and masterful rendering of textures make this piece a striking example of his genre painting.

About the Artist
Augustus Edwin Mulready (1844–1904) was a British genre painter known for his sensitive portrayals of street children, flower sellers, and the urban poor. Born into a family of artists, he studied at the South Kensington Schools and later at the Royal Academy under the guidance of John Callcott Horsley. His works, often compared to the narratives of Charles Dickens, explored themes of poverty, resilience, and childhood struggles in Victorian England. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, and other notable venues. Mulready’s works remain valued for their detailed realism and social commentary.