Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Drawing from the George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection

Drawing
Watercolor over Printing Ink
Late Nineteenth Century
Britain
Part of the George Speaight Punch & Judy Collection
The Victoria & Albert Museum

In 2010, George Speaight bequeathed his impressive and comprehensive collection of Punch & Judy artifacts to the Victoria & Albert Museum. This drawing was among the objects in the collection, one of a series by the same unknown artist.


A hand-colored, water color over printing ink drawing, it depicts Mr. Punch, his wife, Judy, and their ill-fated baby in the moment in the puppet show when Judy urges her husband to spend some time with the tyke. As we know, Punch’s parenting skills are lacking, and he eventually tosses the uncooperative child out of the window. For the briefest of moments, however, they appear to be a happy family. The scene, of course, turns sour rather quickly.

The other drawings in the series depict Punch’s discarding of the baby, Judy’s violent reaction, Punch’s overtaking of Judy, Punch’s escape from the Constable, his introduction to Toby and Joey the Clown who taunts Mr. Punch with sausages, and Punch’s inevitable encounter with Jack Ketch, the hangman.

The Victoria & Albert Museum