Private Collection, United Kingdom (by 1950)
Thence by descent through the family (and sold: Sotheby's, ♋London, June 27, 2007, lot 299, illusไtrated)

Paris, Salon, 1870, no. 1397

Good condition. Lined. Under UV: Tiny dots of inpainting in and above girl's left eyebrow. Tiny strokes of inpainting in her bow. Inpainting along four edges to address frame abrasion.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Emile Auguste Hublin studied at the École des Beaux-Arts beginning in 1855 and became a student of François Edouard Picot (1786-1868), who also taught William Adolphe Bouguereau.  He exhibited at the Paris Salon between 1861 and 1880.  

In the present work, Hublin depicts a charming scene of a young girl sharing her simple meal with two brave birds.  The vivid re❀d cherries beside the broken bread on her plate temptingly glisten against the otherwise somber palette of the composition, attracting the attention of the birds and the viewer.  The girl's turquoise necklace also draws the eye resting upon the porcelain brilliance of her delicate skin, as well as the bright materials in her sewing basket on the chair beside her.   Her pale yet rosy complexion and short-sleeved chemise are softly but precisely rendered and appear to radiate light from within the dark interior.