“Not Forgotten; or, the Modern Cinderella” by Bernard Partridge

[Victorian Web Home —> Visual Arts —> Illustrators —> Bernard Partridge —> Next]

Not Forgotten; or, the Modern Cinderella

Bernard Partridge

Punch (18 June 1902): 435

Inscribed lower right: “Bernard Partridge”

Source: The Internet Archive’s online version of a copy in the University of Toronto Library.

The Coronation of Edward VII

Punch

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Internet Archive and the University of Toronto Library and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. — George P. Landow.]

Partridge’s cartoon goes a long way towards explaining the popularity of Queen Alexandra. The Fairy godmother tells the unhappy housemaid, “I hope to see you at five o’clock tea” and the text beneath explains, “[On the occasion of the Coronation the Queen will entertain at tea ten thousand maids of all work, ‘Generals,’ who will afterwards be commemoratively decorated by Her Gracious Majesty.]” The very idea of recognizing the importance of housemaids and other female servants suggests dramatic changes in both social attitudes and the public roles of the monarchy.

Last modified 6 July 2017