The Derby Day

This engraving after a painting by William Powell Frith depicts the crowd of race-goers at Epsom Downs, a racecourse in Surrey. 'Derby Day' followed the phenomenal success of 'Ramsgate Sands' by the artist, another panoramic view of contemporary society.

The painting 'Derby Day', which is now in the Tate collection, was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1858. It was such a popular exhibit that a rail had to be put in front of the painting to protect it from the heaving crowds.

The focus of this engraving, made to capitalise on the success of Frith's painting, is on the incidents and interactions taking place in the foreground. Frith, who went on to paint other panoramas of Victorian society, was one of the pioneers of narrative painting in the mid-19th century. In his panoramic views, numerous incidents - depicted as happening simultaneously - vie for the viewer's attention.

In 'Derby Day' the central group revolves around the acrobat and his son, whose attention has been distracted by the picnic being laid out nearby. Meanwhile, a crowd has gathered around a thimble-rigging stand, seen on the left near the Reform Club's private tent. A country fellow is tempted to join in but his wife, pulling on his arm, leads him away. The unfortunate young man portrayed nearby, with his hands in his pockets, has been targeted by pickpockets.

On the far right, a bare-footed flower-girl offers a bunch of flowers to a well-dressed gent, while an old fortune teller approaches the woman holding a parasol in the carriage. In the background, and of secondary importance to the stories being played out by the spectators, is the racetrack and the business of the race itself.