Free Vintage Illustration of a Victorian "Gentleman"

The illustration above is the coarse, comic character Sir Harry of Nonsuch House from the satire Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour, published in 1853. Mr. Sponge was the creation of Robert Smith Surtees, a sportswriter and author who had tried his hand at law before inheriting Hamsterley Hall in Durham and retiring into the life of a "gentleman of leisure."

Free vintage illustration of a woman's portrait head

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The illustration above was originally captioned "Animal Magnetism" (whaaaaat?) and purports to show the model in a "field" of "animal magnetic attraction." Okay, whatever, you crazy old 19th century you. 

I see this image turning into the base of a gorgeous necklace pendant, don't you?  

Free vintage illustration of two lovers reading

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This beautiful Victorian-era illustration of a couple reading could be the start of a Valentine's Day-themed craft. Based on the signature in the bottom right corner, I strongly suspect that the illustrator is Joseph Swain.

Free vintage illustration of a woman washing clothes

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This image of a woman fanning herself while washing clothes comes from an 1892 advertisement for Pearline soap. The first line of the ad reads "You can't keep cool while you're rubbing away over a tub of steaming clothes." Thank heavens for Maytag. 

Free vintage illustration of mother with unhappy baby

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This illustration of a young mother comforting her rather unhappy infant originally carried the subtitle "How to Treat Croup." Dear Old Mum looks heroically composed, all things considered.

Free vintage illustration of a young married couple reading by candlelight

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In this Victorian-era illustration, a young married couple reads by candlelight while a traveler passes outside their window. I haven't yet been able to locate the source information, but I would guess that this is an illustration from a novel.

Free vintage Illustration of Lady Bradshaigh

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For my first free illustration, I've chosen an engraving of Lady Bradshaigh (1705-1785). Isn't she lovely? Lady Bradshaigh, born Dorothy Bellingham, is famous for being the pen-pal and confidante of Samuel Richardson, the author of the first English bestseller, Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded. Lady Bradshaigh lived a remarkable life, which you can read more about here: Ingilby History Page. The illustration comes from the introduction to the Complete Novels of Samuel Richardson, Volume 1, published in 1902. According to notes from the book, it was "engraved by Caroline Watson from an original portrait (1804)."