Ruffians Collection

Seized by one of the swarthy Ruffians (colour litho)
2794450 Seized by one of the swarthy Ruffians (colour litho) by Woodward, Alice Bolingbroke (1862-1951) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Seized by one of the swarthy Ruffians)

Apache achievements, illustration from Le Petit Journal, supplement illustre, 26th May 1907 (colour litho)
XIR346320 Apache achievements, illustration from Le Petit Journal, supplement illustre, 26th May 1907 (colour litho) by French School

A Hydropathic Tragedy (engraving)
1038537 A Hydropathic Tragedy (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Hydropathic Tragedy)

With one another they did fight, 1930s (colour litho)
1122788 With one another they did fight, 1930s (colour litho) by Adams, Frank (1871-1944); Private Collection; (add.info)

These prate and prattle pleasantly and gaily ride away, 1930s (colour litho)
1122785 These prate and prattle pleasantly and gaily ride away, 1930s (colour litho) by Adams, Frank (1871-1944); Private Collection; (add.info)

They were rough looking desperadoes
931023 They were rough looking desperadoes by Thomson, Hugh (1860-1920); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Scarlet Letter, published by Metheun & Co circa 1920); British, out of copyright

The Stage Medley representing the polite taste of the town & the matchless merits of poet
DEC418502 The Stage Medley representing the polite taste of the town & the matchless merits of poet G. Polly Peachum and Captain Macheath, c.1728 (engraving) by English School

Mrs Cibber as Cordelia in Nahum Tates Added Scene of "King Lear"(litho)
1603716 Mrs Cibber as Cordelia in Nahum Tates Added Scene of " King Lear" (litho) by Bleeck, Pieter van (1700-64); Private Collection; (add.info)

The History of a Crime, the Testimony of an Eye-Witness (engraving)
1049704 The History of a Crime, the Testimony of an Eye-Witness (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The History of a Crime, the Testimony of an Eye-Witness)

Queen of the Pirate Isle, illustration from Modern Stories (colour litho)
IL352887 Queen of the Pirate Isle, illustration from Modern Stories (colour litho) by Brock, Charles Edmund (1870-1938); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

The children taken away by the Ruffians
LLM456798 The children taken away by the Ruffians by Franklin, John (c.1800-c.1868); Private Collection; (add.info.: The children taken away by the Ruffians)

The man retreated with an uncomfortable laugh, his eyes still fixed upon the dog (colour litho)
2817210 The man retreated with an uncomfortable laugh, his eyes still fixed upon the dog (colour litho) by Webb, Archibald Bertram (1887-1944) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

The History of The Two Children in the Wood, illustration from
489678 The History of The Two Children in the Wood, illustration from Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century by John Ashton, pub

The Capture of an Heiress (chromolitho)
1055781 The Capture of an Heiress (chromolitho) by Marie, Adrien Emmanuel (1848-91) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Capture of an Heiress)

Peep O Days and Famiiy Men at the Finish, from "The English Spy", pub
3090264 Peep O Days and Famiiy Men at the Finish, from " The English Spy", pub. 1824 (hand coloured engraving) by Cruikshank

The Legend of the Laughing Oak (chromolitho)
1045896 The Legend of the Laughing Oak (chromolitho) by Caldecott, Randolph (1846-86); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Legend of the Laughing Oak)

So the pretty speech they had made the ruffians hearts relent, 1930s (litho)
1122786 So the pretty speech they had made the ruffians hearts relent, 1930s (litho) by Adams, Frank (1871-1944); Private Collection; (add.info)

Queen Margaret presenting her Son to a Robber for protection, after having been stripped of her jewels by other
1108018 Queen Margaret presenting her Son to a Robber for protection, after having been stripped of her jewels by other ruffians (engraving) by English School

Cartoon, Next Weeks Bashers, W E Gladstone
Cartoon, Next Weeks Bashers -- Waiting for the Old Man. Showing William Ewart Gladstone, Liberal Prime Minister, with ruffian MPs waiting for him round a corner. 1884

Suffragette Play Votes for Women. An amateur theatrical group staging a play which features a suffragette holding Votes for Women sign, a policeman, a lad, a butcher and two Ruffians. Date: circa 1909

The Stage Medley representing the polite taste of the town & the matchless merits of poet G
XJF996629 The Stage Medley representing the polite taste of the town & the matchless merits of poet G. Polly Peachum and Captain Macheath, c.1728 (engraving) by English School

French liberty, Nixon, John, -1818, artist, [1793 July], on the right Liberty is torn from her Temple by a hired band of Ruffians bound & going to be Sacrificed to the rage of these Ignorant

The doctor indulged with his favorite scene, Cruikshank, Isaac, 1756-1811, engraving 1790?, cleric Dr. Richard Price, kneeling on a crown with a demon on his back

The Doctor Indulged With His Favorite Scene, Cruikshank, Isaac, 1756-1811, Engraving 1790ja, Cleric Dr. Richard Price, Kneeling On A Crown With A Demon On His Back

French Liberty, Nixon, John, -1818, Artist, [1793 July], On The Right Liberty Is Torn From Her Temple By A Hired Band Of Ruffians Bound & Going To Be Sacrificed To The Rage Of These Ignorant

Attack by ruffians
Frank and Sambo, attacked by Ruffians, in the hold of the Tender. Date: 1842

The Great Advance by George Ranstead
Cartoon drawing by George Ranstead, an amateur artist of the Great War who served in the Army Pay Corps, showing two ruffians looking as if they are about to start fighting

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In the depths of darkness, seized by one of the swarthy Ruffians, their fate hangs in the balance. The Babes in the Wood, orphaned and innocent, are taken off to be murdered by these hired hands of a wicked uncle. But amidst this grim tale, a glimmer of hope emerges as one ruffian repents and turns against his companion, ultimately abandoning the helpless children. Left alone in the unforgiving woodlands, they succumb to their tragic destiny and become covered with leaves by compassionate robins. This haunting illustration by Randolph Caldecott brings to life a ballad from centuries past that tells a chilling story of treachery and despair. It serves as a reminder that even within the darkest hearts there can still exist flickers of remorse and redemption. Not limited to ancient tales alone, they have left their mark throughout history. From Apache warriors displaying both valorous achievements and mischievous fun captured in vibrant illustrations published in Le Petit Journal during 1907; to more recent times when hard-hearted individuals bargained with two bold ruffians for sinister purposes. Yet amid these stories filled with violence and tragedy, we find moments where humanity shines through. In Ireland under the "No Rent" Policy engraving depicting its condition at that time or an engraving titled "A Hydropathic Tragedy, " we witness how people prate and prattle pleasantly before gaily riding away together. Ruffians may embody cruelty and malice but buried beneath lies complexities untold. They remind us that good can emerge from evil just as easily as evil can arise from good intentions gone astray. These enigmatic figures continue to captivate our imagination while serving as cautionary reminders about human nature's duality.