Tricking Collection

Teasing Tirpitz, or luring a U boat to Dover, Heath Robinson
A battered British plane suspends a tiny toy boat on a string, fooling a German U boat into pursuing it all the way to Dover. Another mischievous war tactic dreamed up by William Heath Robinson

A Swell Hand-Out
Comic illustration showing two naughty little monkeys in pyjamas tricking Father Christmas (Gran pop the orang utan) with a bottomless stocking. Date: 20th century

Foxhunting scene on a greetings card by Ernest Griset -- The first fox of the season. The fox hides inside a hollow tree trunk as the horses and hounds race by. Date: circa 1890s

The Fox Visiting the Heron, early-mid 17th century. Creator: Frans Snyders
The Fox Visiting the Heron, early-mid 17th century

Le Md de chaines de suretés, 1840. Creator: Honore Daumier
Le Md de chaines de suretes, 1840. La chaine de surete ainsi nomme par ce qu'elle est un moyen sur de faire savoir que le badaud qui l'achete posse une montre

Vertumnus and Pomona, 1613. Creator: Hendrik Goltzius
Vertumnus and Pomona, 1613

The Event at the Ball, from Monument du Costume Physique et Moral de la fin du Dix-huitième
The Event at the Ball, from Monument du Costume Physique et Moral de la fin du Dix-huitieme siecle, 1774

Vertumnus and Pomona, 1617. Creator: Jan Tengnagel
Vertumnus and Pomona, 1617

Le Marchand d'orviétan ou l'opérateur Barri, c.1743. Creator: Etienne Jeaurat
Le Marchand d'orvietan ou l'operateur Barri, c.1743. The Doctor's Visit, or "The Charlatan". Orvietan was a concoction of partially toxic herbs, wine, and dissolved honey

A crafty Norwegian lad outwits a simple-minded devil by tricking him into jumping into a nutshell, in which he is at once imprisoned. Date: 1879

The New Play at the Haymarket Theatre, 23 August (litho)
1600946 The New Play at the Haymarket Theatre, 23 August (litho) by Stewart, Allan (1865-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: The New Play at the Haymarket Theatre, 23 August)

Reynard Disguised as a Monk, probably c. 1645 / 1656. Creator: Allart van Everdingen
Reynard Disguised as a Monk, probably c. 1645/1656

Polonius tests Hamlets sanity while the the King and Queen observe
IL388118 Polonius tests Hamlets sanity while the the King and Queen observe, from Hamlet by William Shakespeare, edition published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1915 (colour litho) by Simmonds, W. G

Queen Morgana appears unto Sir Launcelot, illustration from
STC335726 Queen Morgana appears unto Sir Launcelot, illustration from The Story of the Champions of the Round Table (litho) by Pyle

Isaac Blessing Jacob, c. 1660-70 (oil on canvas)
3545973 Isaac Blessing Jacob, c.1660-70 (oil on canvas) by Dyck, Abraham van (1635/6-72); 125x108 cm; National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden; (add.info.: In the book of Genesis)

Vivien bewitches Merlin, illustration from The Story of King Arthur
STC335710 Vivien bewitches Merlin, illustration from The Story of King Arthur and his Knights, 1903 (litho) by Pyle, Howard (1853-1911); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American

Sir Gawaine sups with ye Lady Ettard, illustration from
STC335717 Sir Gawaine sups with ye Lady Ettard, illustration from The Story of King Arthur and his Knights, 1903 (litho) by Pyle

The disloyal of the war, Turkish soldiers who deceive the Arabs by showing them old uniforms... (colour litho)
2808491 The disloyal of the war, Turkish soldiers who deceive the Arabs by showing them old uniforms... (colour litho) by Beltrame

Pestonjee Bomonjee sitting in his palm-tree and watching the Rhinoceros Strorks bathing
STC405561 Pestonjee Bomonjee sitting in his palm-tree and watching the Rhinoceros Strorks bathing, illustration from Just So Stories for Little Children by Rudyard Kipling, pub

Sir Kay showeth the mystic Sword unto Sir Ector, illustration from
STC324294 Sir Kay showeth the mystic Sword unto Sir Ector, illustration from The Story of King Arthur and his Knights, 1903 (litho) by Pyle

The Trick, from The Pytchley Hunt, engraved by F. Jukes (1745-1812), 1790 (colour litho)
BSA266456 The Trick, from The Pytchley Hunt, engraved by F. Jukes (1745-1812), 1790 (colour litho) by Smith, Charles Lorraine (1751-1835) (after); 44.5x44 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

The Card Sharp on the Boulevard, 1806. Creator: Louis Leopold Boilly
The Card Sharp on the Boulevard, 1806

Plate 14 from the Tauromaquia : The very skillful student of Falces, wrapped in his cape, tricks the bull with the play of his body. 1816

The Connoisseur, 1780-1800. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
The Connoisseur, 1780-1800

Illustration, The Valiant Tailor -- Pulling the piece of soft cheese out of his pocket, he squeezed it till the moisture ran out. Date: 1909

The Angelic Child Presented to the ----- of Golconda, 1791 (hand-coloured engraving)
XCF306893 The Angelic Child Presented to the ----- of Golconda, 1791 (hand-coloured engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Isaac Blessing Jacob, c. 1638 (oil on canvas)
XOS1202215 Isaac Blessing Jacob, c.1638 (oil on canvas) by Flinck, Govaert (1615-60); 117x141 cm; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (add.info.: This painting depicts how Jacob)

Leonard Holt preventing the Earl of Rochester tricking Amabel with a false marriage. Illustration by John Franklin (active 1800-1861) for William Harrison Ainsworth Old Saint Paul s

Water Splashing Festival in Jinghong town Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, China, Asia

Hare Tricking the Tiger
The hare tricking the tiger

Peder Thordenskjold (a Norwegian naval warrior in Danish service) captures the town of Marstand & the Karlsten fortress by tricking the Swedish commander

Clive and Omichund
Clive is confronted by the ghost of Omichund (Amir Chand) a Sikh merchant and intriguer who was tricked by British, but probably only after tricking them in his turn

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"Tricking Through Time: From Teasing Tirpitz to Crafty Norwegian Lads" Step into a world of cunning and deception as we explore the art throughout history. From luring U-boats to Dover to outwitting simple-minded devils, these captivating tales will leave you spellbound. Intrigue awaits in a foxhunting scene on a vintage greetings card, where hidden tricks lie beneath the surface. Heath Robinson's ingenious contraptions come alive, showcasing his mastery at fooling even the most astute observers. Travel back to 1879 and witness a crafty Norwegian lad's triumph over an unsuspecting devil. With wit and quick thinking, he traps the devil in a nutshell, forever imprisoning him. The date may be distant, but the thrill of outsmarting remains timeless. The pass of the muleta beckons with its vibrant colors and mesmerizing display. Watch as matadors skillfully deceive fierce bulls with their red capes, proving that sometimes it takes more than brute strength to win. Delve into ancient Egyptian mythology as Osiris is beguiled into a chest by clever manipulation. Lewis Spence's vivid illustrations bring this enchanting tale from 1917 to life once again, reminding us that even gods can fall prey to trickery. Experience the excitement of attending "The New Play" at Haymarket Theatre in August 23rd (litho). As actors take center stage, they weave intricate plots filled with twists and turns that keep audiences guessing until the final act. Reynard Disguised as a Monk transports us back centuries ago when disguises were used for mischief rather than malice. Allart van Everdingen's masterpiece captures Reynard's mischievous nature perfectly - an embodiment of trickery itself. Shakespearean drama unfolds before our eyes as Polonius tests Hamlet's sanity while King Claudius and Queen Gertrude observe.