28/2004

Collection

Paintings, Prints and Drawings

Brief description

Hand-coloured etching, 'AT HOME in the NURSERY or The master and miſses two shoes Christmas Party', drawn by George Cruikshank and published by Thomas M_cClean in London in 1835.

Title

AT HOME in the NURSERY or The master and miſses two shoes Christmas Party

Object name

print
etching

Object number

28/2004

Production person

Thomas McLean (publisher)
George Cruikshank (artist)

Production date

1835 (published)

Production place

London (published)

Period

Georgian (1714-1837)

Material

paper

Technique

printed
etched

Physical description

Hand-coloured etching on paper with title and publication line printed below the image.

Content description

The scene shows a nursery at Christmas, with 13 children engaged in a variety of games. On the left hand side of the picture two girls are playing in a handmade carriage made up of chairs, behind them are four boys play fighting, one holds the Union Jack flag and blows a bugle, the boy next to him has a drum around his neck. In the centre of the scene are four girls forming a circle around the nanny who holds a baby, two of the girls hold dolls. In the foreground are a girl and boy playing with a pyramid of cards and toy soldiers, a skipping rope lies on the floor beside the girl and an open book which reads, 'Eaton / Latin / Grammar'. To the right hand side of the scene is a boy on a rocking horse holding a whip in one hand and a hat in the other. On the wall in the background is a crude caricature of Dr Syntax, a comic character who appeared in a number of satirical prints by Thomas Rowlandson in the early nineteenth century. A female servant is shown coming into the room holding a tray with cake, sweets and glasses on it.

Content object

chair
book
tray
door
doll
toy
toy soldiers

Dimensions

Height: 22.5cm
Width: 27.3cm

Website keywords

child rearing
toys
games