Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Magistrate, 19th C.

Engraving based on a drawing possible by Cruikshank, 19th C.
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This Nineteenth Century engraving showing an audience enjoying a Punch and Judy performance faithfully reproduces an earlier work which was possibly drawn by George Cruickshank (1792 -1878).

Instead of his usual companion, the Dog Toby, Mr. Punch, here, is pictured with a cat in the fit-up.  The booth is in the upper center of the scene with the audience in the foreground. The trimmed piece of paper upon which the image is printed has, on the reverse, part of a music score entitled 'The Magistrate'.

“Old G. Cruickshank” is inscribed in pencil on upper center-left.  The image is now part of the impressive George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum.