WILLIAM HEATH ROBINSON AND GERARD HOFFNUNG

INSTRUMENTS AND INVENTIONS: A DUET OF EXHIBITIONS CELEBRATING BRITISH COMIC GENIUS

25 May - 22 June 2011

Though a highly versatile artist, William Heath Robinson (1872-1944) was dubbed the Gadget King in his own lifetime, and has remained synonymous with ridiculously complicated machines and inventions.

This comprehensive exhibition, of 270 works, will explore Heath Robinson’s achievement with breadth and imagination – placing his ingenious cartoons in the context of his work of an illustrator, with which he even rivalled Arthur Rackham.

Heath Robinson’s cartoons reflect a very English response to progress, and particularly the technological developments of the early twentieth century, in both war and peace. They portray his compatriots as engaged in highly unlikely tasks, which they accomplish in an earnest and painstaking manner.

The show will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue available from the gallery at £15 p+p (£3 UK, £5 Europe, £10 World)

The gallery is also playing host to the famous international touring exhibition of GERARD HOFFNUNG. The show includes many of his best known musical cartoons from the family’s own collection.

Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5.30 pm

For further details on each picture, please click on the images or their titles

HEAR-SAY ALL VERY BUSILY EMPLOYED IN SEEKING OF RUSTIE PINS TAKING SEATS FOR LUNCH ON ONE OF THE FIRST TRAINS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH RESTAURANT CARS
AN EARLY TYPE OF ENGINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS THE FIRST SMOKING CARRIAGE THE COMPANY STARTS STEAMER SERVICES
THE FIRST WAITING-ROOM HOW THEY NEGOTIATED THE FLOODED DISTRICTS IN THE SHORT CUT TO THE WEST THE ADJUSTABLE CHIMNEY TO FIT ANY SIZE TUNNEL
NUT CRACKING ON THE GWR THE KIND OF THING WE WERE SOMETIMES REDUCED TO BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF FOOT WARMERS THE FIRST MAGNETIC SIGNAL
BOLD MOVE IN THE CAMPAIGN TO DO AWAY WITH RAILWAY PORTERS THE FIRST 'LADIES ONLY' COMPARTMENT A PICTURESQUE CEREMONY –
THE MAYOR IN STATE LETTING THROUGH THE FIRST TRAIN IN A NEW RAILWAY STATION
A SIMPLE DEVICE FOR PREVENTING RAILWAY POLICEMEN FROM BEING RUN DOWN WHEN WALKING ON THE LINE VARIED DUTIES OF RAILWAY POLICE POPULARITY OF THE HIKERS' MYSTERY EXPRESS LEADS TO THE SAME IDEA ON THE ROAD
EARLY METHODS OF ENGINE CLEANING AN ERROR OF JUDGEMENT IN THE GOODS YARD AN EARLY AND INTERESTING TYPE OF SIGNAL
AN UNFORTUNATE START FOR THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS EARLY RAILWAY PIONEERS PROSPECTING FOR A SITE FOR A TERMINUS BY THE UPPER REACHES OF THE PADDINGTON CANAL THE SMELL OF SCORCHING
ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE ENTRANCE TO A CONVERTED HOUSE AN APPROPRIATE GUARD OF HONOUR AT THE WEDDING OF A DOMESTICATED COUPLE NOVELTY IN HOME MILLINERY
THE COLD EGG WHAT ARE HER REACTIONS TO THE ALBERT MEMORIAL? BRIQUETTES
ANTICIPATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT
WHY SANTA CLAUS CHANGED HIS MIND AN UNRECORDED ECLIPSE OF THE SUN
AN ASTRONOMICAL NOTE MRS SNIFKIN DREAMILY AS SHE SMELLS BURNING – DEAR! DEAR!  HE'S SMOKING THAT CHEAP TOBACCO AGAIN
HOW TO DO WITHOUT THE MANTEL SHELF IN A MODERN FLAT CHRISTMAS PRESENTS – SOME OF THIS SEASONS NOVELTIES LEARNING TO STEER
THE NEW REAR WHEEL GEAR FOR TURNING THE CAR RIGHT ROUND IN ONE MOVEMENT THE DINNER GONG IN SERVICE FLATS PETS' PLAY-GROUND TRYPLIT MANSIONS MAIDA VALE
PLAN OF A FOUR ROOMED FLAT WARMED BY ONE STOVE AN 'AIR FRAIS' BUNGALOW FOR WARM WEATHER A FLAT WEDDING
A HAND-MADE MIRROR WHICH ANY LADY WOULD BE PROUD TO PEER AT TESTING CORN PLASTERS IN THE SALON OF A FASHIONABLE WEST END CHIROPODIST THE SERVANT IN THE HOUSE
STUDYING THE UNSOCIAL AND PREDATORY HABITS OF THE MOSQUITO CHOOSING A MATE - SURREPTITIOUS AND CAUTIOUS MEASUREMENT BEFORE INITIAL APPROACH THE HARMONIC DRESSER 
FOR RELIEVING KITCHEN TOIL
THE MORNING BRUSH BEFORE GOING TO THE OFFICE COLLECTIVE GOOD-BYE TO THE CHILDREN WHEN OFF TO THE OFFICE IN THE MORNING THE BOTANY LESSON TAKING NO CHANCES
LEARNING COMMUNAL TABLE MANNERS
AN EXERCISE IN SELF-RESTRAINT HIGHER MATHEMATICS INTERESTING METHOD OF TEACHING ELEMENTARY GEOMETRY
KITCHEN COMFORT DOING MORE THAN ONE THING AT A TIME A NEW MACHINE FOR SPEEDING UP THE BREAKFAST EGG IN A COMMUNAL KITCHEN
WELCOME HOME FROM THE OFFICE IN THE EVENING THE EARLY MORNING PICK-ME-UP PARADE IN THE HANGOVER LOBBY OF A COMMUNAL ESTABLISHMENT SOLO BADMINTON FOR THE OVER SEVENTIES
ANOTHER REVIVAL OF AN OLD CEREMONY
THE BIRTHDAY KISS SIX-HANDED DRAUGHTS THE PROPOSAL SCREEN
FOR MAKING PROPOSALS IN CROWDED ROOMS
DENTAL INSPECTION WITH NO FUSS BRIDGE AS USUAL CARRYING ON IN THE DINING-ROOM DURING SPRING CLEANING IN A COMMUNAL ESTABLISHMENT
CUTTING THE CHRISTENING CAKE DRAWING LOTS FOR THE NEXT BATH EURHYTHMICS
AN EXERCISE IN RHYTHMIC GRACE
HEALTHY SPORT FOR THE AGED IN A COMMUNAL HOME THE BEDSIDE GAS COOKER
BREAKFAST IN BED FOR THE HARDWORKED HOUSEWIFE FOR SHUFFLING DOMINOES
'LOOT'
 A TIP FROM THE HUNS THE ALL-WAYS-AT-ONCE INCENDIARY EXTINGUISHER A MERE MATTER OF FORM
DISTRESSING MISTAKE OF THE COOK RECENTLY RELEASED FROM A MUNITION FACTORY
ENEMY ICE MORTARS FOR PREVENTING PURSUIT WHEN CROSSING FROZEN RIVERS THE SIXTH COLUMN
THE SIXTH COLUMN FRUSTRATE A VAIN ATTEMPT BY THE FIFTH TO STARVE US OUT BY POISONING THE PIGEONS IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE THE KISS OF PEACE 1916-1917
NOTHING DOING
THE PEACEFUL CONVERSION OF A TORPEDO TO A FOOT-WARMER A 'GROUSE AS USUAL' OUTRAGE BY A GERMAN OFFICER DISGUISING SHELLS FOR SHIPMENT IN NEUTRAL BOTTLES
A CLOUD DISPELLER DESIGNED BY THE FIRST LORD DISCOVERING A HEINKEL BOMBER HIDING IN A CLOUD A BRAINY OLD HUN SETTLING THE DANUBE DIFFICULTY BY STOPPING THE RIVER AT ITS SOURCE WHEN TEA AS WELL AS SUGAR IS RATIONED
AN ELEGANT CONTRAPTION FOR SMART OCCASIONS
THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY MAKES YET ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BLACKEN THE NAME OF THE NAZIS.  ELECTROCUTING A WELSH RABBIT ON THE FOOT HILLS OF MOUNT SNOWDON LORD HAW HAW'S LATEST REVELATION
INHUMAN CONSPIRACY BY THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY TO KIDNAP GOERING'S BABY ANOTHER GROSS INFRINGEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE NAZIS. 
THE FIRST LORD DISGUISED AS A 'U' BOAT. TORPEDOING DUCKS IN KENSINGTON GARDENS
HMS WINSTONIA
THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY'S NEW WAISTCOAT POCKET BATTLESHIP AN INFAMOUS ATTEMPT BY THE FIRST LORD TO STEAL THE BAIT OF A FISHERMAN IN THE NORTH SEA CONTEMPTIBLE PLOT BY THE FIRST LORD AND HIS GANG TO INJECT FLUE GERMS INTO 
FIELD MARSHALL GOERING BY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE
DISGUISED AS A NEUTRAL, THE FIRST LORD PERPETRATES ANOTHER UNSPORTSMANLIKE OUTRAGE ON THE GERMAN NAVY THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY'S NEW DESIGN FOR A MINE-SWEEPER SOME OF THE FIRST LORD'S NEW IDEAS FOR ARMING MERCHANTMEN WITH DEPTH 
CHARGES AND OTHER ANTI-SUBMARINE DEVICES
WHEN BEER IS RATIONED TEMPORARY MEASURES TO DEAL WITH SHORTAGE OF MATERIALS IN A HAGGIS MILL IN THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND STRETCHING SPAGHETTI BY THE NEW MAGNETIC METHOD WHEN SPAGHETTI IS RATIONED
WHEN TEA AS WELL AS SUGAR IS RATIONED. AN ELEGANT CONTRAPTION FOR SMART OCCASIONS AT THE CLUB WHEN TOBACCO &C ARE RATIONED THE TEST FOR FREEDOM FROM BLEEDING AND PICKING UP
1935 MAYOR & MAYORESS IN STATE ATTENDED BY THE SURVEYOR & HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE OPENING THE NEW DUROID MACADAM ROAD.
1975 THE SAME COMMITTEE WATCHING VAIN ENDEAVOURS TO SCARIFY THE ROAD AT A LATER DATE GATHERING WHITING IN THE YARMOUTH ROADS INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS ON THE WIG INDUSTRY (MASS PRODUCTION FOR THE MILLIONS)
THE MAKING OF MECHOFELT – UNDER HYDRAULIC PRESSURE A RECENTLY REVISED FORM OF THE AVELING SHUTTLE DUMPER HOLED OUT
A TRAINED EARLY BIRD COMPELLING A WORM TO TURN BEFORE IT CASTS AN UNFORTUNATE BACK-HANDER AT ST ANDREWS KNOCKING THE GROUND FROM BENEATH HIS FEET
THE TOO VIGOROUS GOLFER – NOW I HAVE JUST ABOUT CUT MYSELF OFF
SUMMER TROUBLES IN THE TROPICS – SNAKE CASTS ON THE SAHARA GOLF COURSE ANOTHER ILLUSTRATED CROSSWORD PUZZLETTE ACROSS – 1. **** EXCLAMATION CASABIANCA OF THE LINKS
SOMETHING ON EACH WAY
A FISH TRAGEDY SOME INGENIOUS SUGGESTIONS FOR GIVING THE BOWLER A BETTER CHANCE – TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE MCC AS ALTERNATIVES TO THE RIDICULOUS NEW REGULATION FOR SMALLER BALLS STRANGE THINGS THAT DON'T OFTEN HAPPEN AT GOLF
THE EIGHTEENTH HOLE ALL IS NOT GOLD THAT GLITTERS AMERICAN GOLFERS, WHO THINK THEY SEE A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY, OVERCOME WITH HONOUR AND AVERSION THE KINDLY CADDY-BIRD OF ST ANDREWS PURSUING ITS DAILY ROUND
THE INCURABLE GOLFER DOES A SHORT HOLE IN ONE HARD TO BEAT: THE RECORD MRS BLOGGS AT THE FOOTBALL MATCH 
MRS BLOGGS – 'WELL, I'M BLESSED! AFTER ALL THIS TRAPESING ABOUT, IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AND LOST THE BALL!'
DRAWING RED HERRINGS ACROSS THE SANDS OF DEE LUNCHEON HOUR ON THE EMBANKMENT HE FELL ASLEEP IMMEDIATELY
HE HAD TO LOOK AFTER HIS SISTER GUSTAVE, WHO WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN HE WAS THEN, AFTER A WHILE HE CAME TO A POND THE TALKING THRUSH
SIT IN FRONT OF THAT MAN UP JUMPED THE BOY AND OUT HE RAN SPINE DESIGN FOR THE TALKING THRUSH
WHO SHOULD COME BY, BUT A MAN WITH A BAMBOO POLE OVER HIS SHOULDER OFT HAD THIS MONKEY SEEN THE MILKMAN POUR WATER INTO THE MILK CANS THE MERCHANT WAS MUCH DISMAYED
THE PARROT IN COURT THEY BOTH MADE A HEARTY MEAL OF THE FISH, THE MEAT AND THE CAKE HE TURNED AND TWISTED, BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDO THE CORD
'WHAT IS THAT NOISE ABOUT?' SAID THE OLD WOMAN, LOOKING ROUND THE ROOM HE DASHED AFTER THE ELEPHANT HIS SONGS THOUGH PRETTY WERE SHORT
MY HATCHET, LORD JUPITER, MY HATCHET WORK, CLOWN, WORK HE WAS A LITTLE QUEAER OLD FELLOW
LOUPGAROU HE MET A NURSE HE CHUCKLED WITH DELIGHT
UP FLEW THE TRUNK THE OTHER POINT OF VIEW
MOTHER 'FLU GERM TO HER YOUNGEST – COME BACK AT ONCE, FLUELLYN, – CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S GOT IT ALREADY, – YOU'LL CATCH IT YOURSELF BEFORE YOU'VE DONE, AND GIVE IT TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY NOBLE EFFORT BY THE ITALIAN COLONY IN LONDON TO MAKE A 'DO' OF THE ITALIAN EXHIBITION AT BURLINGTON HOUSE
NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION UNG
LATER HE PICTURED AN AUROCHS – LATER HE PICTURED A BEAR –  PICTURED A SABRE TOOTHED TIGER DRAGGING A MAN TO HIS LAIR  PICTURED THE MOUNTAINOUS MAMMOTH, HAIRY, ABHORRENT, ALONE – OUT OF THE LOVE SHE WORE A BROAD HAT TO SCREEN HER FROM THE SUN
THE PROLOGUE TRULY, THE MOON SHINES WITH A GOOD GRACE AND OPENS 'IS AS IF 'E WAS GOIN' TO SHOW ME 'IS FINE SET OF TEETH
XMAS LEGENDS – THE FIRST ROAST TURKEY
AN OLD LEGEND THAT ATTRIBUTED THE DISCOVERY OF ROAST TURKEY TO THE MONKS IN THE 13TH CENTURY PATRIOTIC OLD DEARS ENDEAVOURING TO MAKE LIFE AS SWEET AS POSSIBLE DURING THE SCARCITY OF SUGAR PETER QUINCE
HE WENT UP TO THE TOP OF THE WATER AND BEGAN CRYING AND SCREAMING HE LEFT THEM IN ADMIRATION BOTH OF HIS GOOD SENSE AND UNALTERABLE FIRMNESS HE STOOD ON THE SHORE WATCHING THE VANISHING VESSEL
AND POURED OUT A STREAM OF MALEDICTIONS AND PLAINTS AGAINST HER
HE CUT A COUPLE OF CAPERS IN THE AIR CLOSE BY HIM STOOD DAPPLE, WHO NEVER FORSOOK HIM IN ADVERSITY IN THIS SITUATION HE WAS CONVEYED OUT OF THE HOUSE
ONE OF THE MOTLEY CREW CAME UP CAPERING TOWARDS THEM BIRDS-NESTING IN THE ADIRONDACKS. THE BIRDS' NESTER'S REBUFF
MRS EAGLE – SEND HIM TO COVENTRY MY DEARS WE'LL HAVE NO LIVING STATUARY HERE MONTE CARLO REFORMED PLAYING SNAP FOR FILBERTS AT THE CASINO
RAISED THE STONE WITH EASE PLACED HIM AS HE DESIRED HANS ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES
CABINET COUNCILLORS WERE WALKING ABOUT BAREFOOTED COMMUNITY SINGING
WHAT IT IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO THE REAL SOLDIER
PUSSY-CAT, PUSSY-CAT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN UP TO LONDON TO LOOK AT THE QUEEN CONSEQUENCES
HOW A FALLEN CRUMB MAY BE THE MEANS OF DESTROYING THE REPUTATION OF A RESPECTABLE CITIZEN SEASONAL PRECAUTIONS AT A WEST END RESTAURANT
CORKING UP THE HOLES IN THE GRUYERE CHEESE TO STOP THE DRAUGHT
THE FIRST CHANTEY ELFIN MOUNT UP JUMPED THE LITTLE WHITE LADY IN HER BED
SEARCHING FOR HALLEY'S COMET AT GREENWICH OBSERVATORY THE OFFICER HAD HIS HANDS FULL THE WITCH

 

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