The Magic Meal (for "The Hat Full of Soldiers," The Strand Magazine, January 1916, pp. 104-105)

ca. 1915

Not on view

The British illustrator Heath Robinson created this image to accompany a Bohemian fairy tale in "The Strand Magazine" in 1916. The double page spread shows a poor cobbler discovering the magic powers of an old rag, an unlikely treasure he acquired with the help of a speaking statue. After using his meagre provisions to buy the rag from imps, the cobbler taps it three times with a staff and summons a sumptuous feast. The trusting cobbler soon has the rag and other newly acquired treasures stolen, but is helped by the statue to regain them; then returns home to live in safety and prosperity. "The Strand" was widely read by British troops during World War I and the present tale, though purportedly aimed at children, also cheered men enduring deprivations at the front (soldiers often wrote to the editors to ask for more humor and fantasy). Heath Robinson's beautifully drawn illustration extends a rich European print-making tradition into the twentieth century.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: The Magic Meal (for "The Hat Full of Soldiers," The Strand Magazine, January 1916, pp. 104-105)
Artist: William Heath Robinson (British, London 1872–1944 Highgate, London)
Date: ca. 1915
Medium: Pen and ink on two joined sheets
Dimensions: Sheet: 15 5/16 × 22 5/16 in. (38.9 × 56.7 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Gift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler, 2020
Object Number: 2021.16.3
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By William Heath Robinson

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Aukland, New Zealand, Illustration for "A Song of the English", William Heath Robinson British, Watercolor — Aukland, New Zealand, Illustration for "A Song of the English"
William Heath Robinson
Rudyard Kipling
ca. 1909

"They Heard Six Voices Calling Them Back" (for "Two Wee Pogeys" in "Topsy-Turvy Tales"), William Heath Robinson British, Pen and black ink, brush and wash — "They Heard Six Voices Calling Them Back" (for "Two Wee Pogeys" in "Topsy-Turvy Tales")
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1923

"Who Got it from the Fruit-woman" (for "Perriwinkie, The Puddock" in "Topsy-Turvy Tales"), William Heath Robinson British, Pen and black ink, brush and wash — "Who Got it from the Fruit-woman" (for "Perriwinkie, The Puddock" in "Topsy-Turvy Tales")
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1923

Illustration for "Hanky Panky," Topsy-Turvy Tales, William Heath Robinson British, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) — Illustration for "Hanky Panky," Topsy-Turvy Tales
William Heath Robinson
Elsie Smeaton Munro
ca. 1923

Illustration for "The Six Dead Secrets" from "Topsy-Turvy Tales", William Heath Robinson British, Watercolor and gouache (bodycolor) — Illustration for "The Six Dead Secrets" from "Topsy-Turvy Tales"
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1923

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.