Winter 1875

Augustus Edwin Mulready painted this scene of children playing in the snow during the late 19th century. It’s a slice of Victorian life, but what does it tell us about the social conditions of the time? Mulready was the son of William Mulready, a Royal Academician whose genre scenes of everyday life were extremely popular. Augustus followed in his father's footsteps. Looking at the image, we can see the rosy-cheeked children are warmly dressed, suggesting they come from a relatively comfortable background. But childhood in Victorian Britain was not a universal experience of rosy cheeks and sledding. Many children, particularly those from poorer families, were working in factories or mines. So, what is Mulready doing here? Is he offering a sentimentalized view of childhood that ignores the harsh realities of Victorian society? Or, by depicting these children at play, is he making a subtle comment on the importance of leisure and education for all? To understand the painting fully, we might consult census records, social surveys, and histories of education. By placing the image in its social and institutional context, we can better understand its meaning and significance.