Pestering Collection

Miseries of London, 1812. A woman walking down Wapping Old Stairs being assailed by a group of watermen plying for trade. Two figures watch from a balcony

Ah! Fouchtrra!... Ma femme... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Ah! Fouchtrra!... Ma femme... 19th century

O Bid Me Not that Strain to Sing, 1825. Creator: Pendleton's Lithography
O Bid Me Not that Strain to Sing, 1825

The Antique Pest, from The Light Side of Egypt, 1908 (colour litho)
STC361048 The Antique Pest, from The Light Side of Egypt, 1908 (colour litho) by Thackeray, Lance (fl.1901 d.1916); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; British, out of copyright

Punch cartoon: photographers trying to drum up business (engraving)
6034717 Punch cartoon: photographers trying to drum up business (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Punch cartoon: photographers trying to drum up business)

"There was an Old Man of Dundee, who frequented the top of a tree", from A Book of Nonsense
LLM386685 " There was an Old Man of Dundee, who frequented the top of a tree", from A Book of Nonsense, published by Frederick Warne and Co

Drawbacks of celebrity: a cricketer pestered by autograph hunters (chromolitho)
5217375 Drawbacks of celebrity: a cricketer pestered by autograph hunters (chromolitho) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawbacks of celebrity)

Suffragettes trying to speak to the Prime Minister, London, 1908. Olive Fergus (left) and Mrs Frank Corbet flank Prime Minister Herbert Asquith (1852-1928)

The Antique Pest, 1908. Artist: Lance Thackeray
The Antique Pest, 1908. From The Light Side of Egypt, 1908

Dr. Birch and His Young Friends, 1880. Artist: Joseph Swain
Dr. Birch and His Young Friends, 1880. Sir William Harcourt, the Liberal Home Secretary, prepares a birch labelled Juvenile Offenders Act

Pestering the Master
Two friendly dogs pester their master as he tries to read his newspaper in the back garden. Date: 1930s

Rook - young pestering adult for food - Cornwall - UK
DAC-364 Rook - young pestering adult for food Cornwall - UK Corvus frugilegus David Chapman Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

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In this collection of captivating images, we witness the art in various forms. From mischievous characters like Naughty Louis and The Antique Pest to photographers desperately drumming up business, these illustrations depict the relentless pursuit for attention or favors. Even an Old Man from Dundee seeks solace atop a tree to escape constant annoyance. Drawbacks of celebrity are revealed as a cricketer is hounded by autograph hunters, highlighting the burdens that come with fame. In another scene, suffragettes persistently attempt to speak with the Prime Minister in their fight for equality. The timeless struggle between pests and those being pestered is beautifully portrayed throughout history's artwork. The whimsical "Dr. Birch and His Young Friends" showcases how even children can become bothersome when they incessantly seek attention or engage in mischief-making. Lance Thackeray's "The Antique Pest" humorously captures the annoyance caused by an individual fixated on antiquities. Nature also presents its own version as Gentoo Penguins chase after adults for food on Ronge Island in Antarctica. These persistent chicks remind us that pestering is not limited to human interactions but extends into the animal kingdom as well. Whether it be through colorful engravings or lithographs, these illustrations shed light on both comical and frustrating aspects behavior across different eras and contexts. They serve as a reminder that while persistence may sometimes yield results, there is a fine line between harmless curiosity and becoming an unwelcome nuisance in someone's life.