Saturday, September 22, 2012

Drawing of the Day: Donnybrook Fair, 1826

Click image to enlarge
Donnybrook Fair
Daniel Maclise, 1826
The Victoria & Albert Museum


Our friends in Britain would call this a “roundabout,” while in the U.S., we’d refer to it as a “Merry Go Round.” Either way, this is an attractive scene from 1826. This work of ink on paper is by Daniel Maclese (1806-1870).

Some of the people on the ride are seated on wooden horses and some are on sleighs. Interestingly, the Merry Go Round is run on human power—moving as individuals run around with it.

This image was acquired by the V&A as part of a lot of 397 drawings by Maclise (with seven by other hands). The lot depicts, in pencil, ink, and watercolor, mostly figures in landscapes. 



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