'Dancing Dolls, or, Les Marionettes a Londres'
Illustration
01/08/1835 (published)
01/08/1835 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
George Cruikshank (1792-1878) was an English caricaturist and book illustrator. Early in his career he produced social and political caricatures of English life for popular publications such as The Comic Almanack and Omnibus. He went on to become a leading exponent in the art of book illustration and is generally accredited as heralding the golden age of children's book illustration. Among his most popular illustrated works are the first English translation of Grimm's fairy tales, German Popular Stories, published in two volumes by Charles Baldwyn from 1823-6, Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels (1836-8) and Charles Dickens' novels, Sketches by Boz (1836) and Oliver Twist (1838). Most of Cruikshank's illustrative work was produced on copper, etched by himself.
His illustrative style went out of fashion in the 1840s but, inspired by the temperance movement, he continued to illustrate temperance tracts and folios of moralising prints, such as 'The Bottle' (1847) and its sequel, 'The Drunkard's Children' (1848). He remained an ardent social reformer throughout his life.
His illustrative style went out of fashion in the 1840s but, inspired by the temperance movement, he continued to illustrate temperance tracts and folios of moralising prints, such as 'The Bottle' (1847) and its sequel, 'The Drunkard's Children' (1848). He remained an ardent social reformer throughout his life.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | 'Dancing Dolls, or, Les Marionettes a Londres' (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Etching on paper |
| Brief description | Hand-coloured etching, 'Dancing Dolls, or, Les Marionettes a Londres', by George Cruikshank, engraved by J.T.S. and published by Thomas McLean 1st August 1835. |
| Physical description | Hand-coloured etching depicting two dolls dancing on a string tied between a post and a boy's leg. The boy plays a recorder-like instrument and bangs a drum. Two girls on the right of the etching observe - one holds a doll by the arms so it appears to dance. On the left a woman carrying two milk pans around her shoulders laughs. In the background is a long fence with a house beyond and a man leaning on the fence. A partial view of a sign reads: 'Nursery'. Title and production information printed below the illustration within a border. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'AR' (Initialled in pencil by Anne Renier on verso) |
| Credit line | Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier. |
| Object history | Drawn by George Cruikshank, engraved by J.T.S. and published by Thomas McLean on 1st August 1835. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | George Cruikshank (1792-1878) was an English caricaturist and book illustrator. Early in his career he produced social and political caricatures of English life for popular publications such as The Comic Almanack and Omnibus. He went on to become a leading exponent in the art of book illustration and is generally accredited as heralding the golden age of children's book illustration. Among his most popular illustrated works are the first English translation of Grimm's fairy tales, German Popular Stories, published in two volumes by Charles Baldwyn from 1823-6, Sir Walter Scott's Waverley Novels (1836-8) and Charles Dickens' novels, Sketches by Boz (1836) and Oliver Twist (1838). Most of Cruikshank's illustrative work was produced on copper, etched by himself. His illustrative style went out of fashion in the 1840s but, inspired by the temperance movement, he continued to illustrate temperance tracts and folios of moralising prints, such as 'The Bottle' (1847) and its sequel, 'The Drunkard's Children' (1848). He remained an ardent social reformer throughout his life. |
| Other numbers |
|
| Collection | |
| Library number | RENIER.416 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 25, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
