Original Picture: Wallace Collection, London, England.
Artist: Sir Joshua Reynolds (rĕn´´ŭldz).
Birthplace: Plympton, Devonshire, England.
Dates: Born, 1723; died, 1792.
Questions to arouse interest. What do you see in this picture? Where do you think she is going? What has she on her arm? What is it for? Why do you suppose she stands so still? Do you think she looks frightened, or shy? What has she on her head? How is she dressed? How is she holding her hands? Why would she not carry strawberries in her apron? What can you see behind her? How many of you like this picture?
The story of the picture. We all know the story about the great artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and his picture called "Angels' Heads." We know, too, how very fond of children he was, and how much they liked to go to see him.
Having no children of his own, perhaps he would not have understood them so well if his little niece had not come to live with him when she was a very little girl. Her name was Theophila Palmer, but every one called her "Offy." When her father died the family was left very poor, and so Sir Joshua Reynolds wanted to help her mother, who was his sister. He offered to adopt Offy as his own little daughter and to take her home to live with him and his sister in his great house in London.
After living on a farm out in the country all her life, you can imagine how excited Offy was when it was finally decided that she should go. Her uncle came for her in that same big coach or carriage in which little Frances Isabelle Gordon liked so much to ride.
What a fine time she must have had playing in the great yard with Sir Joshua, and with the children who came to him to have their pictures painted! Very often she would go home to see her mother and sister. Then Sir Joshua would send his carriage to bring them all back for a visit with him. What fun it was to show them all around the great house and yard! There were fine, large trees in the yard, and behind the house was a small garden with a strawberry patch at one end.
One bright spring morning Offy woke up with a beautiful plan in her head. She would surprise her uncle. He had been so very busy she felt sure he had not looked at the strawberry bed for several days, and did not know the berries were ripe. She would take her little basket and pick it full of the largest ones for him.