1861 (year of production) Wood engraving mounted on grey card
170 x 290 mm. Purchase: Puttick and Simpson Auctioneers, Leicester Square, London 1924
Doyle's 'Bird's-Eye Views of Society'- series consists of sixteen images which were published in Cornhill Magazine between April 1861 and October 1862. Doyle wrote humorous articles to accompany each image.
A sumptuous room with pastoral scenes on either side and a portrait at the back of the room, all of them in opulent frames. A table covered with large decorative plates, other crockery and ornate candle holders on either side stands at the rear wall. A number of servants attend to the guests or prepare dishes. Some of them wear breeches. Ladies and gentlemen in luxurious garments are seated at the dinner table which is decorated with flower bouquets and bowls of fruit in the centre of the image. A gentleman is carving meat (?) at the head of the table. The Dalziel signature is in the lower left-hand corner. The paper is yellowed with age and has some staining and folds.
