A fine historical genre painting of two children at a tower by George Bernard O’Neil. Two children dressed in 17th century costumes are depicted at the bottom of a winding stone staircase. As they approach the last step they stop to peer around the corner at a sleeping guard dressed in a Roundhead uniform. Meanwhile, a brown spaniel waits by the side of the boy who stays the dog with a touch of his hand. A similar work on this theme was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1862.

George Bernard O'Neill was born in Dublin on 17 July 1828. He travelled to England in 1837 where he attended school in Woolwich and lived at 2 Nightingale Terrace. In 1845 he was accepted at the Royal Academy School and started exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy from 1847. In 1855, he married Emma Stuart Callcott, a cousin of the artist John Callcott Horsley. Through his wife, he was introduced to the Cranbrook Colony in 1859 and kept a home and studio near Cranbrook where many of his paintings were set. He also had a home and studio at the Mall in Kensington Gravel Pits, now known as Notting Hill Gate. This was an area popular with other artists such as George Henry Boughton and James McNeill Whistler who he became friends with.

O'Neill specialised in charming genre scenes with a slightly humorous or sentimental narrative. This technique espoused by the Cranbrook school which he was part of was often used as a tool to appeal to the social conscience of the viewer. His works were highly popular amongst the emerging middle class, especially in the North and Midlands who were part of a growing social movement. He died in London on 23 September 1917.

Examples of his works can be found in a number of museums and art galleries including the Bury Art Museum, Guildhall Art Gallery, Leeds City Art Gallery, Sheffield Museum, Tate, Walker Art Gallery and Wolverhampton Art Gallery.