Portfolio > The Penny Dreadfuls

The Death of Munrow
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 60"
2018
Dancing Bear and Savoyard
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 40"
2018
Man Holding Dog with Rabbit
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 40"
2021
The Chariot
Acrylic on canvas
2018
Grapplers
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2019
The Source
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2019
Mauled
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2018
Blood Feud
Acrylic on canvas
48" x 40"
2019
Children at Play
acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2018
Kissing Couple #1
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2018
Scuffle
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2017
Drinking Couple
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2017
Father Time
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2018
Who Shall Wear The Breeches
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2018
Dr. Syntax
Watercolor & acrylic on paper
30" x 22"
2018
The Bird Catchers
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
30" x 22"
2017
The Red Barn Murder
watercolor & acrylic on paper
14" x 10"
2016
Kissing Couple # 2
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
10" x 8"
2018
Kissing Couple # 3
Acrylic and watercolor on paper
10" x 8"
2018
Death of the Lion Queen
Graphite on paper
14" x 11"
2018
Men Fighting
Graphite on paper
14" x 11"
2019
Flick and Flack
Graphite on paper
14" x 11"
2019
Widow and Orphans
Graphite on paper
14" x 11"
2018
Child with Rats
Graphite on Paper
14" x 11"
2018
Bear Baiting
Graphite on paper
14" x 11"
2018
Menagerie
Graphite on paper
9" x 12"
2018
Mazeppa: Stealer of Hearts and Ladies Favors
Graphite on paper
11" x 14"
2018
Girl and Dog
Graphite on paper
14" x 11"
2018
Samson and the Lion
Graphite on Paper
14" x 11"
2018
Europa and the Bull
Graphite on paper
14" x 11"
2018

In this series, I have been researching the history of the Staffordshire pottery working conditions from 1740- 1835 and the themes of the figurines produced at that time. I became fascinated that between 1810- 1835 the company added new themes that reflected common lower class idealized pastimes and some rather horrific contemporaneous events such as infamous murders, notorious law breakers, hangings, mauling by lions and tigers, and animal baiting/ fights. The pretty and often gaudily colored objects sold as mantelpiece decorations commemorating such these events were the equivalent of three-dimensional “penny dreadfuls” and satisfied the need of pre-Victorian and Victorian tastes for sensationalism in the public imagination. Many of these figures seem to simplify and disguise the actual living conditions of the working poor during this time, yet they were very popular with middle class consumers. The greatest irony, for my inquiry, is that these objects are now considered highly collectable and expensive.
After my initial research, I began to paint interpretations of these figure groups by exaggerating the implied violence and sexuality of the themes through the amplification of the gaudiness and randomness of both the application of color and decorative motifs. I also removed the quaint aura and sentimentality of the original figures. My intent is to utilize the trope of the material culture critique as a form of social commentary in art.