A Poor-House

In 1868, shortly before this picture was painted, the French illustrator, painter and sculptor Gustave Doré made his first visit to London where he witnessed the living conditions of the city's poor first-hand.

'A Poor-House' depicts men, women and children in the dark basement of a London lodging house, which is lit mainly by a candle on the table in the centre. The occupants have assembled around two tables and are shown smoking and playing cards, while another group can be seen near the wooden staircase on the left. A man, a child and a dog in the centre stare out of the picture towards the artist.

The scene portrayed in Doré's painting mirrors the description of an East London poor house in 'London: A Pilgrimage', which was written by Blanchard Jerrold and illustrated by Doré between 1869 and 1871. Published the following year, in monthly instalments, 'London: A Pilgrimage' was later sold as a book edition and translated into French.

For the publication, the artist produced 180 wood engravings which focused on different segments of London society and the contrast between the rich and poor. In order to research the project, Doré assumed a disguise and visited sites in London, ranging from gala balls to opium dens and slums. In some of the less salubrious areas, the artist was often accompanied by policemen for protection.

As well as his illustrations for 'London: A Pilgrimage', Doré produced a large number of drawings, engravings and paintings of London scenes, some of which are in the collection of the Museum of London. Although he made numerous illustrations of London's homeless population, which fluctuated between 30,000 and 80,000 during the 1860s, 'A Poor-House' remains the only known large-scale London painting by the artist.

In both England and France, Doré was lauded for his accomplishments as an illustrator and in 1861 he received the Cross of the Legion of Honor for his illustrations to Dante's poem 'Inferno'. Despite painting from a young age, Doré's acclaimed work as an engraver and draughtsman threatened to overshadow his skill as a painter. This was set to change, however, in the late 1860s, around the time that 'A Poor-House' was made and The Doré Gallery opened in London. The Gallery, which showcased paintings by the artist to the public between 1868 and 1892, helped to establish Doré's reputation as a versatile artist.