Three boys and a policeman

Hablot Browne (1815-1882) was a talented artist who had a close and long standing collaboration with the author Charles Dickens. They met in 1836 and Browne (known as Phiz) proceeded to illustrate ten of Dickens' works. The more well known are the Pickwick Papers, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield and Bleak House.

Browne worked up drawings which he then etched onto steel plates. This drawing shows a scene which would be typical of the type of characterisation required by Dickens. It depicts a streeet scene in which a policeman appears to be unaware of three street urchins who seem to be trying to hide from him. Browne captures details of the street signage and activity with notes written on the sketch indicating that it was intended to be used for an illustration.