Lesley Blucher was visiting her uncle's orchard (Decimus Wells) in Mapua for the school holidays in 1942 where the Wollastons had built their cottage and were living. This is how this unique portrait came about. Lesley glances off the side into the cot of Woollaston's daughter Anna (Anna Caselberg) whom was born that same year.

Provenance: Long term loan Collection, Waikato
Museum, Te Whare Taonga O Waikato
Collection of the subjects family

Illustrated: p. 53 Toss Woollaston: An Illustrated Biography. Gerald Barnett, National Art Gallery, Wellington, 1991

This strong and thoroughly satisfying work is a fine example of Woollaston's portraiture from the first decade of his long career. Peter Simpson