differently, a tree on the left removed. In a there is a sort of hook on the inside of the door to hold a bell, which is absent; in b it is added. The bolts, etc., are different.
“Mr. Pickwick in the Pound.” b is more brilliant and vastly improved; the smaller donkey is removed, the three reduced to two; the sweep’s cap is made white; the faces are altered, and made more animated. Mr. Pickwick’s figure in the barrow is perhaps not improved, but his face is.
“Mr. Pickwick in the Attorney’s Office.” Sam’s face in a was quite unlike, and was improved; the position of his legs altered. The other points are much the same.
“Last Visit of Heyland to the Old Man.” This is a sort of anticipation of “Phiz’s” later treatment of tragic subjects, as supplied for “Bleak House” and such stories. Heyling’s cloak in b is draped over his left arm, the boards of the door are outlined differently. In a the face of the old man a side one, with little expression; in b it was made three-quarters,
and contorted with horror—the attitude powerfully expressive, indeed. The figures of both are worth comparing.
“The Double-bedded Room.” In b the lady’s face is refined, and made less of the “nut-cracker” type. The comb is removed, her feet are separated, and the figure becomes not ungraceful. A white night-gown in b is introduced; in a it is her day-gown, and dark; the back of the chair in b is treated more ornamentally; in a a plain frilled nightcap is hung on the chair, changed in b to a more grotesque and “Gamp-like” headgear. Nothing can be better in a than the effect of light from the rushlight on the floor. This is helped by the lady’s figure, which is darkened in a, and thrown out by the white curtains behind. Mr. Pickwick’s face in a is not good, and much improved in b. It will be noted that the artist often thus failed in his hero’s face—“missing his tip,” as it were. This picture admirably illustrates the artist’s power of legitimately emphasizing details—such as
the night-cap—to add to the comic situation.
“Mr. Weller Attacks the Executive of Ipswich.” There is scarcely any alteration worth notice.
“Job Trotter Encounters Sam.” The two plates are nearly the same, except that Mary’s face is made prettier. Sam’s is improved, and Job Trotter’s figure and face more marked and spirited.
“Christmas Eve at Mr. Wardle’s.” The changes here are a cat and dog introduced in the foreground in b, instead of the dog which in a is between Mr. Pickwick and the old lady.