Mr George Grossmith - Times Reporter - Bow St.

George Grossmith ( 1847-1912)created characters in the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, wrote the comic novel, Diary of a Nobody (1892)and performed his own comic sketches at literary institutes and public halls. His 'sketches' included anecdotes, satirical commentary and comic songs. For twelve years from 1877, Grossmith played the chief comic part in all of Gilbert and Sullivan's operas, including Sir Joseph Porter, in H.M.S. Pinafore, and the Major-General in The Pirates of Penzance. However at the beginning of his career he followed his father by working as a Times police court reporter until the early 1870s and Furniss has captured him at this stage of his career.

Harry Furniss (1854-1925) worked on The Illustrated London News and Punch, among others, becoming celebrated for his fine caricatures. He produced The Essence of Parliament whch was extremely popular with the public and over his career created thousands of drawings.This drawing seems to be one of his earliest, produced soon after he arrived in London in 1876.