Object of the Day: Grimaldi or Joey the Clown or...

Click on image to feed the baby.

Joseph Grimaldi (known as “Joey the Clown”), credited as the original white-faced clown, was mimicked and copied by many of his contemporaries. His then-unsual makeup and wig are no considered standard clowning attire, but, then, he was all new. The image of the white-faced clown quickly became a popular artistic theme during Grimaldi’s day. Unless specifically indicated, it’s difficult to tell if these images are actually of Grimaldi or of his many imitators.

For example, I recently came across this antique scrap amongst a lot of trade cards in my collection. If this isn’t Grimaldi, he’s a pretty close approximation. He even appears to be wearing “Joey’s” specific costume.

My question is this, however—Why the baby? Who gives their baby to a clown to be fed with a giant, comic spoon? It troubles me, especially when you consider that “Joey the Clown” became a character in the Punch and Judy tradition. We know how well it turns out for babies there.