Illustration design for "The Economy of Human Life" 1834

This 1834 illustration by Frank Howard depicts a scene from the book "The Economy of Human Life", a popular moral text written by Henry Brooke. The illustration, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, portrays a somber scene. A woman kneels in prayer, while a man stands with his arms crossed, gazing upon a figure lying on the ground, suggesting the theme of mortality and contemplation on life's meaning. The artwork's delicate details and somber tone make it a poignant example of 19th-century British illustration.