Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Representation, Class, Industry, Education

    Describes an exhibition at the Palace of Westminster of paintings by leading statesmen of 'the working man' (some of which are reproduced in PU1/49/19/4) These reveal several statesmen's attitudes towards and perceptions of the working classes, including William E Forster's representation of a working man seated at a desk 'absorbed in the task of mental improvement'. Punch adds that at first it took the picture to be 'a portrait of Galileo in his cell, or a philosopher in his study'.