Forever blowing bubbles: 19th century picture floats into US auction
Painted in 1857, 'Young Boy Blowing Bubbles' by John Thomas Peele (1822-97) pre-dates by a generation Sir John Everett Millais’ 1886 oil Bubbles (A Child’s World) made famous in advertisements for Pear’s soap.
Peele’s 2ft 6in (76cm) high oval canvas, making its first appearance at auction, sold to a local c…