John Graham Lough in his Studio, 1881 (oil on canvas)

The Newcastle-born sculptor John Graham Lough (1798-1876) is shown in his London lodgings, working on his first important sculpture. His landlord is indignantly pointing out the damaged ceiling to a well-known lawyer, Henry Brougham. The sculpture represents the athlete Milo of Croton, who was the subject of a Greek myth warning against excessive pride. In order to show his strength, Milo tried to pull a split tree apart, but it snapped shut on him, allowing wild animals to attack him. The picture is in the detailed, humorous style used by the Newcastle artist Ralph Hedley in the first half of his career;