Paintings, Prints & Drawings — C. 1830
A rat catcher
Charles Cooper Henderson (1803-1877) produced several watercolours of life on the London streets many of which are in the collection.
In this watercolour a Rat Catcher is portrayed, a figure who was well known on the Victorian streets. He was indispensable at a time when there was a large rat population in London. This figure may be modelled on a famous mid-nineteenth century rat-catcher, Jack Black, who wore a scarlet topcoat, waistcoat and had a large belt with rats inscribed on it, here it is a sash. The Rat catcher is accompanied by two dogs and holds a cage in which to place the rats.
Some rats were sold as pets, some were sold for rat-baiting and some provided the inspiration for books such as Beatrix Potter's Samuel Whiskers.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- 60.89/6
- Object name:
- A rat catcher
- Object type:
- drawing, watercolour
- Artist/Maker:
- Henderson, Charles Cooper
- Related people:
- —
- Related events:
- —
- Related places:
- London
- Production date:
- c. 1830
- Material:
- paper, chalk, watercolour
- Measurements/duration:
- H 253 mm, W 200 mm (paper)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.