Preparing to grapple (the broken cable). Artist: Robert Dudley. Drawn and lithographed by Dudley, with assistance from Day's technicians. Chromolithograph. 10 ½ x 16 ½ inches. An illustration for W. H. Russell's The Atlantic Telegraph (London: Day, 1866), p.77.

A vigorous design which shows the sailors preparing to grapple the broken cable from the depths. Dudley's combination of diagonals, outstretched arms and pointing hands suggests the pent-up energy and excitement of the moment.

Image capture and text by Simon Cooke. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the person who scanned the image and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.it


Last modified 18 November 2013