Every Man on His Perch or Going to Hobby Fair thumbnail 1
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Every Man on His Perch or Going to Hobby Fair

Satirical Etching
1819 (etched)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The velocipede was the forerunner of the modern bicycle. A version of it was patented in London in 1818 and they became all the rage in early 1819. Instead of pedalling, the rider propelled himself along with light touches of the feet on the ground. It was claimed that speeds of up to ten miles an hour could be reached on them.

Each rider represents a different nationality, profession, type or character from literature. Some of the velocipedes have been customised according to their rider: the farmer rides a plough, the fishmonger a fish, and the Scotsman has a bowl of steaming porridge on the back and a thistle on the front.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleEvery Man on His Perch or Going to Hobby Fair (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Etching coloured by hand
Brief description
'Every Man on his Perch or Going to Hobby Fair', etching by Isaac Robert Cruikshank, London, 1819
Physical description
Satirical etching depicting men of different professions and nationalities riding velocipedes (a forerunner of the modern bicycle).
Dimensions
  • Plate height: 28.3cm
  • Plate width: 41.4cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Frank A. Gibson
Subjects depicted
Summary
The velocipede was the forerunner of the modern bicycle. A version of it was patented in London in 1818 and they became all the rage in early 1819. Instead of pedalling, the rider propelled himself along with light touches of the feet on the ground. It was claimed that speeds of up to ten miles an hour could be reached on them.

Each rider represents a different nationality, profession, type or character from literature. Some of the velocipedes have been customised according to their rider: the farmer rides a plough, the fishmonger a fish, and the Scotsman has a bowl of steaming porridge on the back and a thistle on the front.
Collection
Accession number
E.1230-1990

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Record createdJune 6, 2007
Record URL
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