Pretending Collection

The Bright Young People - mock Rayner-Ponsonby wedding
A group of Bright Young Things indulging in one of their many silly pranks, in this case a mock wedding where Elizabeth Ponsonby married John Rayner. The best man was Robert Byron

The Party by Muriel Dawson
A little girl in a pink dress entertains her toys with a tea party in her playroom

Berlin society continuing to dance, by order of the Kaiser, despite growing disquiet at the progress of the war
6000391 Berlin society continuing to dance, by order of the Kaiser, despite growing disquiet at the progress of the war, World War I, 1916 (colour litho) by Damblans

A Peter Pan map of Kensington Gardens, 1923 (colour litho)
1198174 A Peter Pan map of Kensington Gardens, 1923 (colour litho) by Gill, Leslie MacDonald (Max) (1884-1947); 102x127 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Gill)

Bonzo palms the pill by George Studdy
Bonzo palms the pill -- he is given a pill, but only pretends to take it. George Ernest Studdy (1878-1948), was the creator of Bonzo

Rock a Bye Baby by Muriel Dawson
A little girl in a charming sun hat, sits in a hammock and rocks her doll to sleep

Little Girl on the phone at a Trade Show
A little girl on the telephone seated on the desk of a stand at a Trade Show. The Midlands Gas Board stand can be seen in the background. Photograph by Norman Synge Waller Budd

Colonel Barker - Valerie Smith Page from The Graphic reporting on the case of Colonel
Page from The Graphic reporting on the case of Colonel Barker (aka John Hill and Geoffrey Norton), who was born Lilias Irma Valerie Barker in 1895

Cupids ruse, 1792. Creator: Hans Veit Friedrich Schnorr von Carolsfeld
Cupids ruse, 1792

Members of the Ballet Montmartre pose for artist, Harrogate
Members of the Ballet Montmartre (on tour in the UK as part of an all-French Variety Bill) pose for Hungarian Artist Jean-Georges Simon in Harrogate

Human models pretending to be a marble statue
A pair of nude (mostly) human models pretending to be a marble statues, complete with rocky plinth! Date: circa 1910s

DAVENPORT POSTER 2
Poster for Ira Davenport, who returned to the stage after the death of his brother William : pretending to be spirit mediums they were skilful stage magicians. Date: 1894

Little Mothers; After Miss Emily Lees, 1888. Creator: Unknown
Little Mothers; After Miss Emily Lees, 1888. From, The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 38. July to December, 1888

Lifes Ambitions, 1920? (oil on canvas)
828452 Lifes Ambitions, 1920? (oil on canvas) by Collings, Albert Henry (fl.1893-d.1947); 200x143.8 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Lifes Ambitions. Albert Henry Collings (1868- 1947)

Little Red Riding Hood, (oil on canvas)
658665 Little Red Riding Hood, (oil on canvas) by Girardet, Jules (1856-1938); 46x56 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Little Red Riding Hood. Jules Girardet (1856-1946). Oil on canvas

We drove off at a galloping pace, illustration from Josephine is Busy, by H. C
IL262873 We drove off at a galloping pace, illustration from Josephine is Busy, by H.C. Cradock, published by Blackie & Son, Ltd

The Morning Call, 1860 / 1901. Creator: Anthony & Company
The Morning Call, 1860/1901. [Children in fancy dress, pretending to be visitors]. Albumen print, stereocard, no. 120 from the series " Young Ideas"

Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses, 1909 (oil on canvas)
1772167 Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses, 1909 (oil on canvas) by Hornel, Edward Atkinson (1864-1933); 76.2x109.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses. Ernest Atkinson Hornel (1864-1933)

The Knight Errant fending off his foe, 1906 (pen, black ink and watercolour)
986146 The Knight Errant fending off his foe, 1906 (pen, black ink and watercolour) by Parkinson, William (fl.1886-93); 26.7x33 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Playing Field Hospital, (oil on paper laid on board)
650863 Playing Field Hospital, (oil on paper laid on board) by Hunt, William Morris (1824-79); 33.3x25.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Playing Field Hospital. William Morris Hunt (1824-1879)

Imaginary Animals and Dwarfs Fighting, Drinking and Carousing (oil on canvas)
990233 Imaginary Animals and Dwarfs Fighting, Drinking and Carousing (oil on canvas) by Bocchi or Boccasi, Faustino (1659-1742) (attr.to); 87x118.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Imaginary Animals and Dwarfs Fighting, Drinking and Carousing (oil on canvas)
990231 Imaginary Animals and Dwarfs Fighting, Drinking and Carousing (oil on canvas) by Bocchi or Boccasi, Faustino (1659-1742); 87x118.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

The Visit, (oil on canvas)
985493 The Visit, (oil on canvas) by Stewart, Julius Leblanc (1855-1919); 130.2x96.9 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Visit. Julius Leblanc Stewart (1855-1919). Oil on canvas

The Young School Mistress and Her Assistant (pencil & w / c on paper)
659755 The Young School Mistress and Her Assistant (pencil & w/c on paper) by Jones, Harry E. (fl.c.1882-1916); 28x31.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; British, out of copyright

Lever des Ouvrieres en Linge, (w / c heightened with white on paper)
659256 Lever des Ouvrieres en Linge, (w/c heightened with white on paper) by Bosio, Jean Francois (1764-1827); 24.5x32.8 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

I saw such a lovely hat today, Dear (colour litho)
3641840 I saw such a lovely hat today, Dear (colour litho) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: I saw such a lovely hat today, Dear)

Girl curtseying to a boy playing at being a king (coloured engraving)
6014607 Girl curtseying to a boy playing at being a king (coloured engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girl curtseying to a boy playing at being a king)

Young boy kissing the hand of a little girl (coloured photo)
5999992 Young boy kissing the hand of a little girl (coloured photo) by European Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Young boy kissing the hand of a little girl)

Men and women pretending to be posh in Blackpool (colour litho)
5999979 Men and women pretending to be posh in Blackpool (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Men and women pretending to be posh in Blackpool)

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

Funny little toddler boy pretending to be a Strongman
insertcaption Date: circa 1920s

Ethel and her young brother in fancy dress
Ethel and her younger brother in fine fancy dress costume - this scene is in part a satire on the penchant for women to wear large and enveloping hats during this period. Date: 1913

Two children in fancy dress; the little boy is dressed as a chef while a little girl makes a very respectable maid or waitress. Date: 1920s

A manuscript page depicting Moses and Aaron with an imaginary townscape of Jerusalem, 1738 (pen, red and black ink)
1766604 A manuscript page depicting Moses and Aaron with an imaginary townscape of Jerusalem, 1738 (pen, red and black ink, watercolour)

Girl; Fillette, 1872-3 (oil on canvas)
1196283 Girl; Fillette, 1872-3 (oil on canvas) by Cezanne, Paul (1839-1906); 16.5x13.3 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French, out of copyright

Noa Noa (Embaume Embaume), circa 1894-5 (woodcut printed in colours)
659476 Noa Noa (Embaume Embaume), circa 1894-5 (woodcut printed in colours) by Gauguin, Paul (1848-1903); 35.7x20.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Noa Noa (Embaume Embaume)

Chips Off The Old Block; The York Stage Coach, (watercolour and black ink)
658074 Chips Off The Old Block; The York Stage Coach, (watercolour and black ink) by Aldin, Cecil Charles Windsor (1870-1935); 38x52 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Behind the scenes in a film studio 1924
Various trick techniques used to achieve certain effects in a film studio, sketched by D. Macpherson in The Sphere. Among the tricks used are a side of a house painted on a floor to give the illusion

Holding up the pillar
Three men and two small children pretend to be supporting the weight of a rather precariously leaning pillar - part of quite a grand countryside entrance way. Date: late 1930s

Men were Deceivers ever (litho)
1039703 Men were Deceivers ever (litho) by Ralston, William (1848-1911) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Men were Deceivers ever)

Sir Edward George Clarke and Joseph Chamberlain
A Queer C. Sir Edward George Clarke (1841-1931), British Statesman and Lawyer and (in background, shooting) Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914). Date: 1900

The work of the children (coloured engraving)
979136 The work of the children (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The work of the children.); © Look and Learn

Queen Elizabeth I dancing in her Palace in all her finery
Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) is pictured here dancing before a rich man in her Palace wearing a beautiful skirt with a corset and her traditional thick layer of make-up

Wolfenberg (engraving)
1047564 Wolfenberg (engraving) by Hatherell, William (1855-1928) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wolfenberg. Illustration for The Graphic)

Theatre de Loie Fuller, (lithograph in colours)
659407 Theatre de Loie Fuller, (lithograph in colours) by Orazi, Manuel (1860-1934); 198x61 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Theatre de Loie Fuller. Manuel Orazi (1860-1934)

The Tea Party, (oil on canvas)
658289 The Tea Party, (oil on canvas) by Wilson, Harry Mitten (1877-1923); 35.5x44.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Tea Party. Harry Mitton Wilson (1877-1923). Oil on canvas

The Comic Duel, 1885 (oil on panel)
651222 The Comic Duel, 1885 (oil on panel) by Marchetti, Ludovico (1853-1909); 22x33 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Comic Duel. Ludovico Marchetti (1853-1909). Oil on panel

Getting Ready for Market, (oil on canvas)
650872 Getting Ready for Market, (oil on canvas) by Carr, Samuel S. (1837-1908); 61x45.8 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Getting Ready for Market. Samuel S. Carr (1837-1908). Oil on canvas

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"Pretending: Unveiling the Art of Deception" Deceiving the invader as to the state of the tide: Nature's clever ruse, concealing her secrets beneath a veil of waves. The Bright Young People - mock Rayner-Ponsonby wedding: A whimsical charade, where laughter dances with make-believe in an extravagant display. The Party by Muriel Dawson: Masks and masquerades, where pretense weaves its spell amidst swirling laughter and hidden desires. Bonzo palms the pill by George Studdy: In a canine caper, mischief reigns supreme as Bonzo plays his part in this hilarious game of pretend. Rock-a-Bye Baby by Muriel Dawson: Innocence personified, a lullaby whispered through gentle deception to soothe restless dreams. Little Girl on the phone at a Trade Show: A pint-sized actress takes center stage, pretending to be all grown-up while captivating hearts with her precocious charm. Bobo masks during festivities, Sikasso, Mali, Africa: Tradition meets playfulness as Bobo embraces disguise during joyous celebrations—a vibrant tapestry woven with cultural intrigue and mischievous delight. DAVENPORT POSTER 2: Illusion becomes reality within this mesmerizing spectacle—where magic tricks enthrall audiences who willingly suspend disbelief for moments of wonderment. Cupids ruse, 1792 Creator Hans Veit Friedrich Schnorr von Carolsfeld): Love's playful trickery unfolds in delicate strokes; arrows fly unseen as hearts dance upon invisible strings. Members of Ballet Montmartre pose for artist Harrogate): Graceful ballerinas embody perfection through artful poses—their bodies becoming living canvases that blur lines between fantasy and reality. Two little girls sitting on 1934 Matchless motorcycle.