The Grace, from "Illustrated London News" 1851

This engraving after Frederick Goodall’s painting "The Grace" was published in the "Illustrated London News," a widely circulated British newspaper. The image depicts a family in a humble cottage pausing to offer thanks before a simple meal. The cultural context is crucial here. During the Victorian era, there was a growing awareness of social inequality. Artists often depicted scenes of everyday life, sometimes romanticizing the virtues of the working class, in order to stimulate social reform. The image creates meaning through the association of piety with the lower classes, subtly commenting on the social structures of its time. To understand this artwork better, we might consult archival materials, such as copies of the "Illustrated London News" and exhibition catalogs from the British Institution, where the original painting was exhibited. These resources help us understand the public role of art in shaping social attitudes.