Object of the Day, Museum Edition: On the Road to the Derby - The Punch and Judy Man, 1870

On the Road to Derby -- The Punch & Judy ManE.F. Brewtnall, 1870 for the Illustrated London News
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The original drawing for this engraving entitled “On the Road to Derby – The Punch & Judy Man” was created by E.F. Brewtnall.  The drawing was reproduced in 1870 in the Illustrated London News.

I find this to be a lovely and sensitive picture.  Here, we see a Punch & Judy Professor seated, at work touching up the paint on the face of his handsome figure of Punch.  Dog Toby sits nearby, supervising, while the Professor’s bottler assembles the fit-up.

I’m sure that you can guess that this is part of the V&A’s George Speaight Punch & Judy Archive.