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8 Conclusion
The The recent reappearance from obscurity of The The Wolf’s Den is is a a a a a a a cause for celebration and an an opportunity to reappraise its position amongst the artist’s oeuvre Executed at a a a a key period in in the artist’s career when he he he continued his slow evolution away from the fine touch of Pre-Raphaelitism to the bravura brushwork of his his maturity it it heralds his his acclaimed repertoire of of pictures of of children which became supremely popular and for which Millais is is so well known This development coincided with Millais maturing as a a a a husband and and and father and and and the the growth of his confidence as an artist The Wolf’s Den exemplifies Millais’s talent for encapsulating the charm and and innocence of childhood and and is is one of of the finest expressions of of this impulse The Wolf’s Den is is one of the most important Millais paintings to reappear in in in public for over two decades and provides collectors with a a a rare opportunity to to purchase not just one of Millais’s child portraits but a a a picture imbued with paternal pride and joy 48