Idleness Collection

Rules to be Observed by a Victorian Family -- a typical summary of Victorian values, with advice including: Waste Not, Want Not; Do everything at its proper time; Be punctual, be regular

Work, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 3927271 and 324488)
MAN198054 Work, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 3927271 and 324488) by Brown, Ford Madox (1821-93); 137x197.3 cm; Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

The Romans of the Decadence, 1847. Artist: Thomas Couture
The Romans of the Decadence, 1847. From the collection of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University Art Museums, Massachusetts, USA

Fruits of Idleness - a young man has passed out from drinking too much alcohol. circa 1830s

Lord Mayors / Hogarth
Industry and Idleness - the Lord Mayors Procession

The Parable of the Talents, c. 1884 (Oil on canvas)
7212780 The Parable of the Talents, c.1884 (Oil on canvas) by Rich, William George (1857-after 1901); The Ms Gallery, London, UK; (add.info.: Rich)

Marmottes administratives. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1906 (colour litho)
3101415 Marmottes administratives. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1906 (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Marmottes administratives)

How Lady Blanche Arundel Held Wardour for King Charles (engraving)
6021222 How Lady Blanche Arundel Held Wardour for King Charles (engraving) by Small, William (1843-1931) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

A Tea Party, c. 1720 (oil on canvas)
MAN277400 A Tea Party, c.1720 (oil on canvas) by Aken, Joseph van (c.1700-49); 37.4x45.7 cm; Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Work, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 198054 and 324488)
3927271 Work, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 198054 and 324488) by Brown, Ford Madox (1821-93); 137x197.3 cm; Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Work, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 3927271 and 198054)
MAN324488 Work, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 3927271 and 198054) by Brown, Ford Madox (1821-93); 137x197.3 cm; Manchester Art Gallery

Work: Workman with Carnation in his Mouth, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 198054 & 100701)
MAN63030 Work: Workman with Carnation in his Mouth, 1852-65 (oil on canvas) (see also 198054 & 100701) by Brown, Ford Madox (1821-93); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; (add.info.: Navvies laying a drain)

Greedy and Lazy, Moderate and Industrious (oil on canvas)
471339 Greedy and Lazy, Moderate and Industrious (oil on canvas) by Verlat, Charles (1824-90); 80x130 cm; Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp, Belgium; © Art in Flanders

O: Idle, 1890 (illustration)
7309330 O: Idle, 1890 (illustration) by French School, (19th century); 20 x 14 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: in "Fun alphabet for little girls)

M N O P: Musician, Nest, Idle, Butterfly, 1890 (illustration)
7309327 M N O P: Musician, Nest, Idle, Butterfly, 1890 (illustration) by French School, (19th century); 20 x 14 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: in "Fun alphabet for little girls)

The Fool Who Postpones Everything Until Tomorrow, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper)
7308392 The Fool Who Postpones Everything Until Tomorrow, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper) by Stettler, Wilhelm (1643-1708); 11.5x10.5 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

The Lazy Service-Messenger Jester, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper)
7308524 The Lazy Service-Messenger Jester, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper) by Stettler, Wilhelm (1643-1708); 11.5x10.5 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

The Lazy Fool, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper)
7308470 The Lazy Fool, 1660-86 (brush and Indian ink on paper) by Stettler, Wilhelm (1643-1708); 11.5x10.5 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Punishment of the idle in the workhouse of Hamburg, Germany (engraving)
7172543 Punishment of the idle in the workhouse of Hamburg, Germany (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Punishment of the idle in the workhouse of Hamburg)

Lazy Lawrence (colour litho)
7157012 Lazy Lawrence (colour litho) by Hassall, John (1868-1948) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Lazy Lawrence. Illustration from Six and Twenty Boys and Girls (Blackie & Son Limited)

Nos braves employes. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1906 (colour litho)
3101403 Nos braves employes. Illustration for Le Pele-Mele, 1906 (colour litho) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nos braves employes)

La Paresse, 1924 (pochoir print)
STC226846 La Paresse, 1924 (pochoir print) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

Abundance, with Avarice and Idleness, 1610-20 (oil on copper)
5973982 Abundance, with Avarice and Idleness, 1610-20 (oil on copper) by Cesari, Giuseppe (Cavalier d Arpino) (1568-1640) (follower of); Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo, Brescia

Love in Idleness (oil on canvas)
CH402322 Love in Idleness (oil on canvas) by Meteyard, Sidney (1868-1947); 87.6x106 cm; Private Collection; Photo © Christies Images

Duties towards oneself: the body. Work and laziness, 1919 (engraving)
DUV4212719 Duties towards oneself: the body. Work and laziness, 1919 (engraving) by Dascher, G. (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Duties towards oneself: the body. Work and laziness)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Paresseux; Sluggard; Faulenzer (engraving)
7196975 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Paresseux; Sluggard; Faulenzer (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Paresseux; Sluggard; Faulenzer)

The gypsies of the Albaicin (litho)
7170974 The gypsies of the Albaicin (litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The gypsies of the Albaicin)

The Boys who never try to Know (engraving)
7165826 The Boys who never try to Know (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Boys who never try to Know)

Woman at the window, 1891 (oil on canvas)
OVR390593 Woman at the window, 1891 (oil on canvas) by Lochen, Kalle (Karl) (1865-93); 100x60 cm; Private Collection; Photo © O. Vaering

An Incomplete Angler (engraving)
7200966 An Incomplete Angler (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: An Incomplete Angler)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Paresseux; Sloth; Faulthier (engraving)
7196974 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Paresseux; Sloth; Faulthier (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Paresseux; Sloth; Faulthier)

Les paresseux (engraving)
7200189 Les paresseux (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Les paresseux. Illustration for La Chasse Illustree (Firmin Didot, 1875).); © Look and Learn

G geography - H holy history - I indolence -- J gardening -- K kakatoes - The sewing
6523437 G geography - H holy history - I indolence -- J gardening -- K kakatoes - The sewing lesson by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

P: Laziness, laziness generates vices
6523568 P: Laziness, laziness generates vices. by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: in " Moral Alphabet in Action. In Paris at all novelty merchants)

I: Indolence - Indolence produces ignorance and at the time of retracting one
6523440 I: Indolence - Indolence produces ignorance and at the time of retracting ones lesson may be punished for not having sweated it

The Lazy Student (engraving)
3648040 The Lazy Student (engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Lazy Student. Illustration for Kulturgeschichtliches Bilderbuch aus drei Jahrhunderten by)

Heart Stealing. Can t Get at it (litho)
3639416 Heart Stealing. Can t Get at it (litho) by Jones, Owen (1809-74) (attr.to); Private Collection; (add.info.: Heart Stealing)

On Strike (litho)
5227339 On Strike (litho) by Herkomer, Hubert von (1849-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: On Strike. Illustration for Bibbys Annual, 1913.); © Look and Learn

The Effects of Extravagance and Idleness (chromolitho)
1051682 The Effects of Extravagance and Idleness (chromolitho) by Morland, George (1763-1804) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Effects of Extravagance and Idleness)

Education under the Government Code, teaching Needlework by Demonstration (engraving)
1044220 Education under the Government Code, teaching Needlework by Demonstration (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Education under the Government Code)

Love in Idleness (engraving)
1628321 Love in Idleness (engraving) by Alma-Tadema, Lawrence (1836-1912) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Love in Idleness. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 9 February 1895)

The bad housekeeper (chromolitho)
1094254 The bad housekeeper (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The bad housekeeper)

Cover for the first edition of La Picara Justina by Francisco Lopez de Ubeda
XJF439983 Cover for the first edition of La Picara Justina by Francisco Lopez de Ubeda, published 1605 (engraving) by Morales

Drink, drink, brother drink! (colour litho)
3103906 Drink, drink, brother drink! (colour litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Drink, drink, brother drink)

Idleness (engraving)
1614183 Idleness (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Idleness. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 15 August 1885)

Work, 1863 (oil on canvas)
BIR100701 Work, 1863 (oil on canvas) by Brown, Ford Madox (1821-93); 68.4x99 cm; Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery; English, out of copyright

Allegory of Sloth (pen & ink and wash on paper)
478825 Allegory of Sloth (pen & ink and wash on paper) by Floris, Frans (1519-70); 60x98.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: pricked for transfer); Photo eChristies Images; Netherlandish

Laziness and misery, or Francois corrected (coloured engraving)
5998883 Laziness and misery, or Francois corrected (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Laziness and misery, or Francois corrected)

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"Embracing the Virtue of Industry: Confronting Idleness in Victorian Society" In the strict and rule-bound world of Victorian society, idleness was seen as a grave sin that threatened to erode moral values and societal order. The artwork "The Parable of the Talents" by an unknown artist in 1884, depicted this notion vividly. It reminded families of their duty to work diligently and make good use of their talents. Thomas Couture's painting "The Romans of the Decadence" from 1847 served as a cautionary tale, revealing the consequences of indulging in idleness. It portrayed a society on the brink of collapse due to its excessive pursuit of pleasure and disregard for hard work. Through William Hogarth's engravings like "Gin Lane, " created in 1751, he exposed the devastating effects that idleness coupled with alcoholism had on individuals and communities alike. These images were meant to shock viewers into recognizing idleness as a destructive force that needed to be combated. However, not all depictions focused solely on admonishing idlers; some explored different aspects surrounding it. Lord Mayors' works by Hogarth showcased how those entrusted with power could succumb to indolence if not held accountable. Contrasting these narratives were illustrations like "Marmottes administratives, " featured in Le Pele-Mele magazine in 1906. This colorful lithograph humorously highlighted bureaucratic inefficiency while subtly critiquing idle government officials who wasted time instead of serving their constituents. Artworks such as "How Lady Blanche Arundel Held Wardour for King Charles" depicted historical figures engaging actively during times when action was necessary rather than surrendering to passivity or laziness. On occasion, leisure activities like tea parties were also captured within paintings such as "A Tea Party. " While seemingly idle at first glance, these gatherings often served social and political purposes, demonstrating that not all idleness was devoid of meaning.