‘At Anchor’, 1865. Wood engraving drawn by Alfred William Cooper and engraved by the Dalziels. 4½ x 7½ inches. Facing 30, Pictures of Society, Grave and Gay. The design first appeared in London Society and was reissued in this gift book with a poem by Thomas Hood. The Romantic rivers-scape ‘at anchor’ is a metaphor of married love and family, ‘Safe anchored and at rest!’ where the lover/parents can enjoy ‘sweet calm’ (31). Cooper encapsulates the value of Home with great intensity; lyrical and moving, his design is a timeless idyll.
Photograph and text by Simon Cooke. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Bibliography
Pictures of Society, Grave and Gay (London: Sampson Low, 1865).
Created 18 January 2023