Distinguished Amateurs - The Pianist

This work is inscribed: Grigsby: "I trust you will favour us this evening, Mr. Belmains!" Mr Belmains: "Well-er-no-hardly..... They don't care for serious pianoforte-playing in this house, you know. I hope you will give us 'the's got'em on', Mr. Grigsby?" Mr Grigsby: "Well-I-er think not-scarcely!..... you see, in this house they don't appreciate serious comic-singing!" This cartoon was published in 'Punch' on 24th December 1881, and was later reprinted in 'Society Pictures from Punch' in 1891. 'Punch' was a magazine founded in 1841 by writer Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. The idea came from the French satire newsapaper, 'Le Charivari'. In homage, the first issue of 'Punch' was subtitled, ‘The London Charivari’. 'Punch' was internationally famous for its humour and wit. Its political and social cartoons captured English life in the 19th and 20th centuries. The term ‘cartoon’ previously referred to a preliminary sketch made for murals or stained glass windows. 'Punch' and other illustrated publications adapted the term and introduced the concept of ‘cartoon’ as we know it today.