From middle-class children with rosy cheeks playing in the parlour to young soot-covered chimney sweeps at work, depictions of children were common in popular art in the 1800s and frequently carried a moralising message. Well-known illustrators whose work often featured children include George Cruikshank, who illustrated some of Dickens’ works, and the highly successful Gustave Doré. Illustrations such as those below enable us to gain an insight into the conditions in which children lived, as well as the relationships they had with their families and how they were regarded culturally.

A fear of the workhouse

Scene conveying a poor family’s fear at the thought of entering a workhouse.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3250588&partId=1&searchText=workhouse&images=true&page=1

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Famous scene from the novel depicting Oliver Twist and Mr Bumble, the beadle; illustrated by George Cruikshank.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3513057&partId=1&searchText=workhouse&images=true&page=1

The danger of alcohol

Scene from a pamphlet promoting temperance; by George Cruikshank.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3523601&partId=1&museumno=1978,U.323&page=1

Urban scene

A street in Whitechapel, London; by Gustave Doré.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3483431&partId=1&searchText=gustave+dore&images=true&&&&&&&&&&&&&people=&place=&from=ad&fromDate=&to=ad&toDate=&object=&subject=&matcult=&technique=&school=&material=ðname=&ware=&escape=&bibliography=&citation=&museumno=&catalogueOnly=&view=&page=1

In the park

People enjoying themselves in Kensington Gardens, London; by Gustave Doré.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?assetId=1482349&objectId=3483243&partId=1

Children with pets

Image of young children playing with animals.

See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3431140&partId=1&searchText=children&images=true&place=42363&from=ad&fromDate=1840&to=ad&toDate=1899&page=2