A quaker stands by an open grave, with clasped hands, eyes sanctimoniously turned up. A grave-digger leans on his spade watching him with puzzled distaste. The quaker: "verily the spirit at length beginneth to move me - alas! there is no happiness on this side of the grave. " a disgruntled sailor (dressed as in bmsat 10894, coat open to show a waistcoat) who stands opposite him asks: "why then you lubber, dont you come on this side?" a second quaker stands behind the first, hands clasped, looking down; on the extreme left. A woman in a quaker's bonnet puts her handkerchief to her eyes. Behind the sailor and on the extreme right. Is another mourner, also puzzled and unsympathetic. The scene is a large walled graveyard; a skull lies by the open grave, grinning up at the quaker. Hand-coloured etching. Date: between 1800 and 1810. Dimensions: Height: 245 mm (cropped); Width: 347 mm (cropped). Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. A sailor at a quakers funeral (BM 1872,1012.5071)
Loading...