Gruel Collection

Lear / Nonsense / Ewell
There was an Old Person of Ewell, who chiefly subsisted on gruel; But to make it more nice, he inserted some mice, which refreshed that Old Person of Ewell

The Nation's Ward': Uncle Sam feeding Government Gruel to snake with head of a Native American
528409 The Nation's Ward': Uncle Sam feeding Government Gruel to snake with head of a Native American, its body round a pioneer family

Boys eating gruel, 1741-1782. Creator: Peter Cramer
Boys eating gruel, 1741-1782

The Frugal Meal (oil on canvas)
GLS219857 The Frugal Meal (oil on canvas) by Israels, Jozef (Josef) (1824-1911); 88.9x138.7 cm; Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, Scotland; © CSG CIC Glasgow Museums Collection

The Peasant Wedding. after 1616 (oil on panel)
3470219 The Peasant Wedding. after 1616 (oil on panel) by Brueghel, Pieter the Younger (c.1564-1638); 69.9x105.2 cm; Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent

Illustration for Oliver Twist (colour litho)
3651279 Illustration for Oliver Twist (colour litho) by Blaikie, F. M. B. (fl.1906-14); Private Collection; (add.info.: Please, sir, I want some more)

The artists second interpretation of Oliver Twist asking for more
DHM139195 The artists second interpretation of Oliver Twist asking for more, from the World of Charles Dickens later made as a Spode plate (w/c on paper) by Devine, H

Oliver Asks for More, illustration for Character Sketches from Dickens
IL193487 Oliver Asks for More, illustration for Character Sketches from Dickens compiled by B.W. Matz, 1924 (colour litho) by Copping, Harold (1863-1932); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Gruel (Little Girl Eating her Soup), 1872 (oil on canvas)
989756 Gruel (Little Girl Eating her Soup), 1872 (oil on canvas) by Bouguereau, William-Adolphe (1825-1905); 80.9x50.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Feeding the Baby
KSG32811 Feeding the Baby by Bromley, William I (1769-1842); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

The French Industrial Exposition (engraving)
1611890 The French Industrial Exposition (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The French Industrial Exposition)

Charity, 1876 (oil on canvas)
LEF222156 Charity, 1876 (oil on canvas) by Pissarro, Camille (1830-1903); 56.3x46.2 cm; Private Collection; Photo eLefevre Fine Art Ltd. London; French, out of copyright

Oliver Asking for More, illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (colour litho)
LLM434076 Oliver Asking for More, illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (colour litho) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Oliver Asking for More, illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (colour litho)
LLM434077 Oliver Asking for More, illustration for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (colour litho) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Oliver Twist asks for more (engraving)
3099591 Oliver Twist asks for more (engraving) by Mahoney, J (fl.1885); Private Collection; (add.info.: Oliver Twist asks for more)

Oliver asking for more, from Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens
KDC465735 Oliver asking for more, from Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, 1923 (colour litho) by Clarke, Joseph Clayton (Kyd) (1856-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Please Sir)

Oliver Twist asking for more, from the World of Charles Dickens
DHM139194 Oliver Twist asking for more, from the World of Charles Dickens, later made as a Spode plate (w/c on paper) by Devine, H

The Gruel, 1861 (etching)
1066889 The Gruel, 1861 (etching) by Millet, Jean-Francois (1814-75); 17.1x13 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; Junior League Print Fund; French, out of copyright

Waiting (En attendant), 1895. Creator: Theophile Alexandre Steinlen
Waiting (En attendant), 1895

Gruel, from "Le Magasin Pittoresque", ca. 1852. Creator: Charles Emile Jacque
Gruel, from " Le Magasin Pittoresque", ca. 1852. [Les Gaudes et Le Mais]

Breakfast, 1866 (oil on canvas)
3106543 Breakfast, 1866 (oil on canvas) by Lindegren, Amalia (1814-91); 82 x 69 cm; Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden; Swedish, out of copyright

Oliver Twist asks for more - Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist asks for more - from Oliver Tiwst by Charles Dickens. Date: circa 1910s

Breakfast, 1866, by Amalia Lindegren
Amalia Lindegren (1814-1891). Swedish painter. Breakfast, 1866. National Museum. Stockholm. Sweden

Sick old Man
BAL50156 Sick old Man by Steen, Jan Havicksz. (1625/26-79); Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia; Dutch, out of copyright

The Babys Cereal, 1867 (oil on canvas)
XIR184005 The Babys Cereal, 1867 (oil on canvas) by Millet, Jean-Francois (1814-75); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Marseille, France; French, out of copyright

The Nations Ward : Uncle Sam feeding Government Gruel to snake with head of a Native American, its body round a pioneer family

Doctor Syntax Lamenting the Loss of his Wife. The Doctor on his knees at his wife s
Doctor Syntax Lamenting the Loss of his Wife. The Doctor on his knees at his wifes deathbed turns away and covers his eyes as the maid spills a bowl of gruel

Workhouse bowl and mug
An inmates soup or gruel bowl and spoon from the Hackney workhouse and a mug from the Bootle workhouse, all marked with their unions monogram. Each held up to two pints of liquid. Date: Date unknown

Dietary from Thame Workhouse, Oxfordshire
The dietary or menu plan adopted in 19836 by the Thame Union workhouse in Oxfordshire. It largely comprises bread, meat and gruel, with a cooked meat dinner two days per week. Date: 1836

Weather / Snow / Cold 19C
A very cold fellow stands up to his ankles in the snow. Fortunately, he has items available at home to warm him up. Date: late 19th century

Adoption Society Meal
Mealtime for a group of National Adoption Society children

Oliver Asks for More
Oliver in the workhouse dares to ask for more gruel

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Gruel: A Nonsense Feast for the Frugal Lear" Step into the world of gruel, where Lear's nonsense meets Ewell's frugality. From paintings to illustrations, this humble dish has left its mark throughout history. In "The Frugal Meal, " an oil on canvas masterpiece, we witness the simplicity and resourcefulness as a breakfast option in 1866. Amalia Lindegren captures the essence of sustenance in her painting "Gruel (Little Girl Eating her Soup), " reminding us that even a little girl finds comfort in this nourishing meal. Traveling back further in time, "The Peasant Wedding" depicts a scene after 1616 where gruel becomes a symbol of unity and community during celebratory occasions, and is through these moments that we realize the significance of this humble dish beyond its basic ingredients. Thanks to artists like Goya and his etching titled "Thanks to the millet, " plate 51 of The Disasters of War from 1810-14, we are reminded that gruel was not only consumed out of choice but also out of necessity during times when resources were scarce. Literature also pays homage to this simple fare; an illustration for Oliver Twist showcases young Oliver asking for more gruel with innocence and curiosity. This iconic moment resonates with readers as they delve into Dickens' narrative filled with hardship and resilience. Moving forward, "Feeding the Baby" portrays how gruel transcends generations, becoming a staple food for all ages. Its versatility shines through even at The French Industrial Exposition depicted in an engraving where it stands as an emblematic representation of sustenance amidst progress. Lastly, Charity takes center stage in Jean-Baptiste Greuze's oil on canvas masterpiece from 1876. Here we see compassion embodied by those who offer warm bowls to those less fortunate—a reminder that sometimes small acts of kindness can make a significant impact.