Henry Wallis: The Stone Breaker

This sombre painting depicts the figure of a man slumped in death. The public and press saw the painting as a justified criticism of the Poor Law, which forced paupers to break stones to repair roads in return for food and shelter. When exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1858, instead of a title the painting was accompanied by a catalogue entry quoting Thomas Carlyle's (1795-1881) 'Sartor Resartus': 'Hardly-entreated Brother! For us thy back was so bent, for us were thy straight limbs and fingers so deformed: thou wert our Conscript, on whom the lot fell, and fighting our battles wert so marred. For in thee too lay a god-created Form, but it was not to be unfolded: encrusted must it stand with the thick adhesions and defacements of labour; and thy body, like thy soul, was not to know freedom.

***Christmas posting dates***

For delivery before Christmas please place your order by midnight on 18th December.

For delivery of art prints before Christmas please place your order by;

10th December for UK delivery of framed and unframed prints

26th November for non-UK delivery of unframed prints

3rd December for non-UK delivery of framed prints

Where possible, all our deliveries are fulfilled by Royal Mail. The shipping cost for standard UK orders is £4.95.

For all international deliveries the rates are calculated at the checkout. Please note that we're currently unable to ship to the EU.

Please allow 7 to 10 working days for delivery. If you're ordering jewellery delivery is approximately 2 weeks.

For Art Prints please allow 5 working days for unframed prints and 15 working days for framed prints/ stretched canvas. Please note that as Art Prints are made to order we cannot accept returns if you have changed your mind or made a mistake. If we have made a mistake or there is a problem with your order please contact us.

If for any reason you need to return goods please let us know within 100 working days why you wish to return the item(s) by emailing us. We will then be in touch to make suitable arrangements.

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