The Dispersion of the Works of all Nations from the Great Exhibition of 1851
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Plate: 8 9/16 × 11 9/16 in. (21.8 × 29.3 cm) Sheet: 12 1/2 × 19 11/16 in. (31.8 × 50 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1966
Accession Number
66.541.55(11)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This etching by George Cruikshank, published by David Bogue in 1851, captures the lively conclusion of the Great Exhibition held in London’s Crystal Palace. The title refers to the dispersal of thousands of objects—from machinery and artworks to natural specimens—sent back to participating nations after the landmark event closed. Through a bustling scene filled with crowds, horses, and grand buildings, the print conveys both the excitement and the logistical chaos of that historic moment. As an etching, the work exemplifies the medium’s popularity in the Victorian era for creating affordable, widely circulated images that commented on contemporary events. Cruikshank’s lively line work invites viewers to imagine the spectacle of goods and visitors departing the exhibition grounds, underscoring the fair’s role in fostering international exchange. Today, the print serves as a vivid reminder of how the Great Exhibition shaped modern ideas of progress and global connection, preserving a snapshot of one of the nineteenth century’s most influential cultural milestones.
About the Artist
George Cruikshank|David Bogue · 1792–1878
George Cruikshank (1792–1878) was born in London on 27 September 1792, the son of Scottish caricaturist Isaac Cruikshank and Mary MacNaughton. His older brother, Isaac Robert Cruikshank, was also a caricaturist and illustrator, while his sister Eliza worked as a designer. From a young age, Cruikshank assisted his father in the studio, contributing titles, backgrounds, and lettering to cartoons by ...