Destitution Collection

Return of the Prodigal Son, 1773. Artist: Batoni, Pompeo Girolamo (1708-1787)
Return of the Prodigal Son, 1773. Found in the collection of the Art History Museum, Vienne

An old man watches on as a shack in Kingsdown is demolished. 1936

Interior of a Coal-Miners Hut, engraved by Godefroy Engelmann (1788-1839) 1829
XIR156150 Interior of a Coal-Miners Hut, engraved by Godefroy Engelmann (1788-1839) 1829 (colour litho) by Charlet, Nicolas Toussaint (1792-1845) (after); Musee Nat

Man preparing breakfast, watched by dogs and a cat, Medina, Venezuela, South America

Ornate ironwork on stairs, Cienfuegos, Cuba, West Indies, Central America

Ornate marble staircase in apartment building, Havana, Cuba, West Indies, Central America

Old Ford car, Trinidad, Cuba, West Indies, Central America

Bicycle with flowers in basket, Havana Centro, Havana, Cuba, West Indies, Central America

MOVE ON POLICE SATIRE
A cruel satire aimed at the Commissioners of Police, features a skeleton in a policemans uniform moving on a starving, homeless woman and her baby

People thrown into poverty pawning their belongings, Portugal, 17th Century (colour litho)
8672968 People thrown into poverty pawning their belongings, Portugal, 17th Century (colour litho) by Gameiro, Alfredo Roque (1864-1935); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Carthusians: Daily Distribution of Victuals to the Poor at the Monastery Dorr (litho)
8666646 The Carthusians: Daily Distribution of Victuals to the Poor at the Monastery Dorr (litho) by Kauffmann, Paul Adolphe (1849-1940); Private Collection; (add.info)

Beggars (pencil on paper)
8683483 Beggars (pencil on paper) by Bonzagni, Aroldo (1887-1918); Assicoop-Unipol Collection, Modena, Emilia Romagna, Italy; (add.info.: "Beggars", by Aroldo Bonzagni (1887 - 1918)

Dock strike on the River Thames (engraving)
8631268 Dock strike on the River Thames (engraving) by Wright, Henry Charles Seppings (1850-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dock strike on the River Thames)

Rich and poor (engraving)
8642715 Rich and poor (engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rich and poor)

The friendless lad sat on the step thinking sadly of tomorrow (colour litho)
8644935 The friendless lad sat on the step thinking sadly of tomorrow (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

"Might Have Been's" (colour litho)
8651758 "Might Have Been's" (colour litho) by Beddington, Alice Maud (1862-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Might Have Been's." Children of the Village)

On his own Account (colour litho)
8651757 On his own Account (colour litho) by Beddington, Alice Maud (1862-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: On his own Account)

Darby and Joan (colour litho)
8635501 Darby and Joan (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Darby and Joan. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

Three men who do not work (colour litho)
8635574 Three men who do not work (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Three men who do not work. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

The Golden Legend: The dance of death (colour litho)
8648827 The Golden Legend: The dance of death (colour litho) by Meteyard, Sidney (1868-1947); Private Collection; (add.info.: The dance of death. "Death, playing on a dulcimer)

Scene from the poem The Graves of a Household by Felicia Hemans (colour litho)
8635555 Scene from the poem The Graves of a Household by Felicia Hemans (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

I'm in love (colour litho)
8635514 I'm in love (colour litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: I'm in love. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

Poor relation pays an afternoon call (colour litho)
8635668 Poor relation pays an afternoon call (colour litho) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: Poor relation pays an afternoon call)

At Bolton (colour litho)
8656571 At Bolton (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "At Bolton. What can a fellow do on a penny a week with these inflated prices)

Aint the price of clothes something awful (colour litho)
8656513 Aint the price of clothes something awful (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Poor Invited to the Feast (engraving)
8633834 The Poor Invited to the Feast (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Poor Invited to the Feast)

Saint Remy Distributing Food to the Poor (engraving)
8676951 Saint Remy Distributing Food to the Poor (engraving) by Maillot, Theodore Pierre Nicolas (1826-88); Private Collection; (add.info.: Saint Remy Distributing Food to the Poor)

A winter scene in the London streets (engraving)
8676717 A winter scene in the London streets (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A winter scene in the London streets)

Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, Old Kent Road, London (engraving)
8676645 Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, Old Kent Road, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Licensed Victuallers' Asylum, Old Kent Road, London)

Watchmakers' Almshouses, Colney Hatch, London (engraving)
8676583 Watchmakers' Almshouses, Colney Hatch, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Watchmakers' Almshouses, Colney Hatch, London)

Bridge House Refuge for Boys, Wandsworth (engraving)
8676472 Bridge House Refuge for Boys, Wandsworth (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bridge House Refuge for Boys, Wandsworth, London)

Shoeblack Brigade festival, Wanstead, London (engraving)
8676455 Shoeblack Brigade festival, Wanstead, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Shoeblack Brigade festival, Wanstead, London)

Preaching in a Ragged School, Gray's Inn Lane, London (engraving)
8676450 Preaching in a Ragged School, Gray's Inn Lane, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Preaching in a Ragged School, Gray's Inn Lane)

Mercy Clothes the Poor (engraving)
8673588 Mercy Clothes the Poor (engraving) by Watson, James Dawson (1832-92); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mercy Clothes the Poor)

Street in Whitechapel, London (b/w photo)
8676205 Street in Whitechapel, London (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Street in Whitechapel, London)

The rich man's feast and the poor man's lamb (litho)
8676061 The rich man's feast and the poor man's lamb (litho) by Rhead, Louis John (1857-1926); Private Collection; (add.info.: The rich man's feast and the poor man's lamb)

Illustration for Oliver Twist, 1871 (engraving)
537425 Illustration for Oliver Twist, 1871 (engraving); (add.info.: Oliver Twist causing a sensation in the children's ward of the workhouse by asking for a second helping of porridge)

Nobody's Children' l: The Raw Material, c.1867 (engraving0)
865060 Nobody's Children' l: The Raw Material, c.1867 (engraving0; (add.info.: Nobody's Children' l: The Raw Material)

Letter P: Poor
DUV4217007 Letter P: Poor; 31x24 cm; (add.info.: I can read (Methodic and fun alphabet by a dad) - abecedary comprising a reading method and an illustrious alphabet); Photo © Duvallon.

Christian charity : a nun gives bread to a poor family, beg of 20th century (postcard)
PCT5618143 Christian charity : a nun gives bread to a poor family, beg of 20th century (postcard); (add.info.: Christian charity)

The daycare center of the Social House in Popincourt, Paris, 1903 (photo)
8672357 The daycare center of the Social House in Popincourt, Paris, 1903 (photo); Private Collection; (add.info.: The daycare center at the Maison Sociale in the working-class neighborhood of)

A farmer woman is back from the forest with her 2 children, they collected wood, 1861 (engraving)
1729215 A farmer woman is back from the forest with her 2 children, they collected wood, 1861 (engraving); (add.info.: Engraving by A. Beauvais).

Field Lane Night Refuge for the Destitute, London (engraving)
8677044 Field Lane Night Refuge for the Destitute, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Field Lane Night Refuge for the Destitute, London)

Goldsmiths and Jewellwers' Asylum, Manor Eoad, Hackney, London (engraving)
8676584 Goldsmiths and Jewellwers' Asylum, Manor Eoad, Hackney, London (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Goldsmiths and Jewellwers' Asylum)

A few cast off clothes (colour litho)
8635666 A few cast off clothes (colour litho) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); Private Collection; (add.info.: A few cast off clothes. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

The Match Boys (engraving)
8636567 The Match Boys (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Match Boys. Illustration for Chatterbox (1878).); © Look and Learn.

London Bluecoat School (engraving)
8631616 London Bluecoat School (engraving) by Capper, Edith (fl.1865-84); Private Collection; (add.info.: London Bluecoat School. Illustration from Black and White)

Joseph Lancaster's Appeal of 1806 (litho)
8673852 Joseph Lancaster's Appeal of 1806 (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Joseph Lancaster's Appeal of 1806)

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"Destitution: A Glimpse into the Depths of Human Struggle" In Pompeo Girolamo Batoni's masterpiece, "Return of the Prodigal Son, " painted in 1773, destitution takes center stage as a young man returns home seeking solace and redemption amidst his impoverished state. Within a kilometer of the majestic Taj Mahal lies a stark contrast - slums that depict destitution in its rawest form. The grandeur of one world juxtaposed with the despair and hardship endured by those living on society's fringes. As an old man watches his shack being demolished in Kingsdown during 1936, we witness how they are strip away not only material possessions but also dignity and hope. Godefroy Engelmann's engraving from 1829 reveals an interior view of a coal-miner's hut, where meager belongings are surrounded by darkness. It serves as a haunting reminder that even within humble abodes, destitution lurks relentlessly. Amidst this struggle for survival, we find resilience. A man preparing breakfast showcases determination to overcome adversity despite limited resources, and is through such small acts that humanity perseveres against all odds. Ornate ironwork adorning stairs in Cienfuegos or marble staircases in Havana highlight the contrasting realities faced by communities grappling with both opulence and deprivation side by side. These architectural marvels stand as silent witnesses to lives marked by inequality and disparity. An old Ford car parked on Cuban streets or bicycles adorned with flowers symbolize resourcefulness amidst scarcity—a testament to individuals finding beauty amid desolation while navigating their way through life's hardships. Through art like "Last Judgment" or Jean Pierre Alexandre Antigna's untitled painting from the mid-19th century, we confront our collective responsibility towards addressing destitution head-on. They remind us that compassion must prevail over indifference if we are to alleviate suffering and restore dignity to those in need.