She may look like a tiny housekeeper but the little girl is a foundling about to be returned to her mother.

The mother, child, and other characters are overcome with emotion, at least for proper 19th century England.

The whole thing looks a bit biblical and righteous. No Oliver Twist or orphan Annie here. Charles Dickens actually wrote Oliver Twist while living next to the Foundling Hospital and rented a pew in the Chapel to write. Oliver Twist and other stories include references to the Foundling Hospital.

It was pretty rare for 'fallen' mothers to return to the Foundling Hospital (all redeemed) and take their children back. The painting gives the right message though and was probably used to help raise funds for the orphanage.

Brownlow was a wiz at hands and it's the hands that tell the story.