George Cruikshank’s Festive Season In London
December 16, 2017
As we brace ourselves for the forthcoming festive season, let us contemplate George Cruikshank‘s illustrations of yuletide in London 1838-53 from his Comic Almanack which remind us how much has changed and also how little has changed. (You can click on any of these images to enlarge)
A swallow at Christmas
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas dining
Christmas bustle
Boxing day
Hard frost
A picture in the gallery
Theatrical dinner
The Parlour & the Cellar
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s birth
Twelfth Night – Drawing characters
January – Last year’s bills
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7 Responses
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How fortunate that we no longer carry things to such excesses …
I liked George Cruikshank’s interpretation of the festive season, it was all riotous and drink fueled happiness that’s what I call big party time for all I like. I also liked Dylan Thomas’es version ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ and a visit to Grandpas . Best wishes to all the Spitalfieldslife people around the would. Poet John
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose
Holiday greetings from Boston,
GA, many of these Cruikshank sketches are most appropriate for the season. “Christmas Eve” and Christmas Dinner” could really be illustrations for Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” – shades of the Fezziwigs dancing. Cruikshank did illustrate “Boz” and others works for Dickens through. The original Carol was done by John Leech (1817-1864). (Had to look that one up.)
On the other side of the coin, “Theatrical Dinner” and “The Parlor and the Cellar” suggest the pitfalls of drink, a cause that Cruikshank took up in later years.
Thanks …
Holiday wishes from the Hudson River Valley. One of our “usuals” is to screen the
old version of “A Christmas Carol”, and it is so familiar by now that we can mouth the dialog.
Some of the engravings above must have surely influenced the art directors of that film.
(am thinking of the riotous party given by Mr. Fezziwig!?)
Many thanks to the Gentle Author for a daily gift of optimism!
The incomparable Mr Cruickshank, I never tire of seeing them, thank you GA.
My Goodness-What a Wild Christmas!! I really enjoy these Very Much!! Merry Christmas to All!!!