“A front elevation of a theatre-box crammed with delighted children fills the design. In the front row are a lady and four little girls. In the middle sits the father, one small boy on his knee, an arm round another child. Eight more children fill the box. Behind them a lady chooses fruit from an old woman’s basket. Two men stand behind. Over the front of the box hangs a playbill: During the Xmas Holidays–Pantomime of Harliquin–Clown by Mr G [Grimaldi].”–British Museum online catalogue.
- Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
- Title: A Christmas box [graphic] / S.K. invt. ; G. Ck. fect.
- Publication: [London] : Pubd. Decr. 26th, 1826, by S. Knights, Sweetings [A]lley, Royal Exchange, [26 December 1826]
826.12.26.01
Acquired November 2020
A theatre scene; a man on stage holding a long cane leans towards the box stage left saying: ‘Bucks of the Boxes, sneer and talk aloud! I don’t mean you.’ The rotund young man at the front of the box says ‘Boo Boo’; he holds an unfurled sheet of paper headed ‘Fair Penitent. Lothario, by the amateur who murdered Romeo …’