Luke ClennellBritish, 1781–1840Tristram Shandy
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Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
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- In this state since
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the work
This is one of a number of original drawings by Luke Clennell, illustrating the works of Laurence Sterne. The drawings are bound in a volume that contains many of Clennell's illustrations for British Novelists, a series of prints published by Sherwood, Neely, and Jones in 1810-11.
A note on the back of the drawing suggests the image is from Sterne's A Sentimental Journey. However, the scene is actually from the author's earlier novel, Tristram Shandy. While travelling through France, Tristram is stopped by an ass blocking a gateway. He offers the animal something to eat:
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"When the ass had eaten his macaroon, I press'd him to come in -- the poor beast was heavy loaded -- his legs seem'd to tremble under him -- he hung rather backwards, and as I pull'd at his halter, it broke short in my hand -- he look'd up pensive in my face -- "Don't thrash me with it -- but if you will, you may" -- If I do, said I, I'll be d----d.
The word was but one half of it pronounced [...] when a person coming in, let fall a thundering bastinado upon the poor devil's crupper, which put an end to the ceremony." (Tristram Shandy, volume VII, chapter XXXII).
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- 7918:23
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 12 days ago
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
