Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

The Loyal Little Drummer Boy

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George Cruikshank
1792-1878

The Loyal Little Drummer Boy

1845?
8 7/8 x 7 3/8 inches (225 x 187 mm)
Watercolor over graphite, on cream paper, laid down on white paper.
2006.38:9

Gift of J.P. Morgan, Jr.

Notes
Forms part of a collection of 20 watercolor drawings by Cruikshank to illustrate W.H. Maxwell's History of the Irish Rebellion.
Drawing for an etched illustration for History of the Irish rebellion (London : Baily Brothers, 1845).
Inscriptions/Markings
Each drawing is signed by the artist and inscribed with a title below the image in pen and brown ink, marginal sketches in graphite; in pencil on mount at lower right: p. 115.
Summary

Drawing shows three Irish rebels brutally murdering a little drummer boy in British uniform with pikes, another about to club the child with the butt of his musket, the drummer's foot through the skin of his drum, and a regiment of ragged rebel troops led by an officer on horseback with a drawn sword beyond, with villagers cheering in the distance by their hovels; with small figure sketches in the left and right hand margins.

Associated names
Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, former owner.
Bibliography
The illustrator and the book in England from 1790 to 1914 / Gordon N. Ray. New York ; London : Oxford Univ. Pr., 1976, p. 72.
Classification
Century Drawings
School
Department