The painting references the Victorian habit of newly-wed couples sending out "wedding cards", to announce that they were "at home" to receive congratulatory visits from friends.[1] Christopher Newall writes of the pose: "...her ringless left hand symbolically clasped to her heart, together with her sad expression, suggest all is not well."[1]
The painting was first exhibited at the Liverpool Academy of Arts in 1854. It was bought by John Miller, a Liverpool-based Scottish collector of Pre-Raphaelite works, and in 1857 Miller lent it to the exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite art in Russell Place in London.[1] In 1858 The Wedding Cards was included in the sale of Miller's art collection.[1] In 1862 it was included in a sale of the collection of Thomas Plint, who had died the year before, where it sold for 120 guineas.[2]
The picture has changed hands at least eleven times since it was painted. London West End art dealer Thomas Agnew & Sons has bought the painting four times: twice in the 1800s and twice in the 1900s.[3]
The painting was sold by Christie's on 6 June 1958 for 280 guineas.[3] It was sold again by Christie's in London on 5 June 2008 (Lot 47),[4] on behalf of the estate of Lord Blackford (Keith Alexander Henry Mason, 3rd Baron Blackford), who died in April 1977.[3] It is now in a private collection.
