Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1860
The General Post Office, One Minute to Six
In 1840 a universal penny post was introduced in the United Kingdom. This, along with the removal of a stamp tax on newspapers, resulted in a huge increase in the number of items going by mail - so much so that the daily spectacle of people rushing to catch the six o'clock last post became something of a spectator sport. This is the scene George Hicks depicts here.
On the left of the painting stands a crowd on onlookers; in the centre, people rush forward carrying stamped letters and packages; and on the right newspapers, both loose and bundled, are being flung into the post room.
The painting was based on William MacConnell's sketch in George Sala's Twice Around the Clock, 1859.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- 90.276
- Object name:
- The General Post Office, One Minute to Six
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Hicks, George Elgar
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1860
- Material:
oil, canvas, wood
- Measurements/duration:
- H 1080 mm, W 1540 mm, D 80 mm (framed)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and the ACE/V&A Purchase Grant Fund.
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.