Two illustrations for "The Economy of Human Life"

Two illustrations for "The Economy of Human Life"

Frank Howard

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Printed from one plate, these two images come from a set of twelve. They were made for an illustrated book published in London by John van Voorst in 1834. Each centers on a vignette illustration, with the book's title above, quotes and publication details below. The prints are numbered below the images, p. 66 and p. 9. p. 66 shows an elderly man seated in an armchair giviing food to two children who stand to either side. Text below: "He assisteth the poor in their trouble; he rejoiceth in furthering the prosperity of all men." p. 9 shows a widow accompanied by two children who kneels to implore aid from a portly man seated next to a table at right, a woman standing behind him. Text below: "When the fatherless call upon thee...when the widow's heart is sunk, and she imploreth thy assistance with tears of sorrow...oh pity her affliction and extend thy hand to those who have none to help them." Related drawings by Howard are in the Museum's collection (66.542.37(14) and 66.542.37(15)).

Drawings and Prints

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two illustrations for "The Economy of Human Life"Two illustrations for "The Economy of Human Life"Two illustrations for "The Economy of Human Life"Two illustrations for "The Economy of Human Life"Two illustrations for "The Economy of Human Life"

The Department’s vast collection of works on paper comprises approximately 21,000 drawings, 1.2 million prints, and 12,000 illustrated books created in Europe and the Americas from about 1400 to the present day. Since its foundation in 1916, the Department has been committed to collecting a wide range of works on paper, which includes both pieces that are incredibly rare and lauded for their aesthetic appeal, as well as material that is more popular, functional, and ephemeral. The broad scope of the department’s collecting encourages questions of connoisseurship as well as those pertaining to function and context, and demonstrates the vital role that prints, drawings, and illustrated books have played throughout history.