The Victim [Scene from 'The Devil upon Two Sticks']. Augustus Egg, painter. S. Sangster, engraver. 1844. 43 1/2 x 33 1/2 inches. Source: 1851 Art-Journal, p. 116, which explains that the artist has illustrated Le Sage's “clever satire on men and manners, entitled ‘Le Diable Boiteux’” — a work that contains “numerous scenes . . . full of nature, and demonstrative of every character and passion whereof man is susceptible, both grave and gay. Mr. Egg has selected one of the latter. Patricio, a citizen of Madrid, more generous than prudent, has treated two acquaintances to a costly breakfast.— Before they went out of the tavern, there was a necessity for paying the vintner, who mounted the bill to fifty reals. The citizen put his hand into his pocket, where finding but thirty reals, he was forced to pawn his beads, garnished with silver medals, for the rest. . . . There is a moral in the story which shows the wisdom of counting the costs of a pleasure before entering upon it. The picture, exhibited in 1844, is excellently painted, in a subdued tone yet with no deficiency of colour, and with great firmness and care.”
Related Material
Image capture and formatting by George P. Landow. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Hathi Trust Digital Library and the University of Michigan and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.it
Bibliography
“The Vernon Gallery.” Art Journal (1851): 116. Hathi Trust Digital Library version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 28 July 2013.
Last modified 29 July 2013