File:Life of Man (BM 1868,0612.1236 1).jpg

[1] 'In the hands of a surly Old Schoolmistress'. A grim old woman wearing spectacles sits in an arm-chair sewing. An infant stands before her (left) with an open book; a little boy stands on a stool weeping; he wears a dunce's cap with a birch-rod attached to his dress. [2] 'Punished by a Pedagogue for reading better than himself'. A terrified youth holds out his right hand to a ferocious-looking schoolmaster seated (right), a raised ruler in his right hand, a book in the other. [3] 'Is sent to College - loves a pretty girl much better than Euclid'. The interior of a college room. A buxom young woman (left) sits in a chair with a young man in academic cap and gown on her knee. They are startled by the entrance of an irate parson (right), who bursts open the door, overturning a small table on which are bottles and glasses. [4] 'Arrives to man's estate and becomes a prey to Sharpers'. A fracas at a gaming-table. The young man, now growing stout, has risen from his chair, clutching a dice-box and clenching his fist. Two men have been thrown to the ground, but two others of tough appearance remain seated, and a fifth enters the room holding a club. [5] 'In a pretty pickle between a Doctor and a Nurse tender'. The invalid, wearing dressing-gown and night-cap, sits in an arm-chair, resting his melancholy face on his hand. On the left is a stout old-fashioned doctor sucking his cane, on the right an old woman approaches with a basin of food. [6] 'To repair a shattered fortune marries an extravagant wife.' He stands (left) holding a long bill and looking in angry horror at a florid woman, who scolds him with arms akimbo. On the right stands a thin, foppish (? French) man-milliner, hat in hand, laden with band-boxes. [7] 'Gets fond of his little family and his wife gets fond of his best friend and cuckolds him'. He sits in a chair in profile to the right, teaching two little boys and an older girl. All appear contented. Behind his back (right) a buxom woman and a military officer, their arms round each other's necks, watch him with amusement. She puts her hand above his head with two fingers extended to represent horns. [8] 'Flies for relief to the Bottle and mends his condition'. He staggers along (right to left), very drunk and dishevelled, supported by two aged watchmen each with a lantern. He holds the wig of a watchman whose hat he kicks along the street. [9] 'Is thrown into Prison - forsaken by his Wife, and the only comfort he now enjoys is that of his Children'. The interior of a prison room with stone walls and barred window. He sits in an arm-chair (left) listening to his daughter, a pretty young girl, who reads to him. A little boy sits by the fire (right) attending to the roasting of a chop which dangles from a string. [10] 'After Seven years confinement gets released by an Insolvent Bill - Goes into the army and butchers his fellow creatures for a trifle a day'. He is about to sabre a soldier who lies on the ground. On the right is a dead or wounded man. He wears a cocked hat and (torn) regimentals. [11] 'Is disbanded and wrecked on his return home'. He sits meditatively on a rock, his back to a raging sea in which a dismasted ship tosses. He wears neat regimentals and a cocked hat, and holds his sword, its point resting on the ground. [12] 'On his return home finds his family eating a sorry meal in a garret'. He rushes through a doorway (left), dropping his sword and holding out his arms to a pretty girl who rushes towards him. A delighted boy is behind her. Behind is a table with a loaf. The room is poverty-stricken. [13] 'Is a witness of an usurious scene which awakens bitter reflection on his former folly'. He sits at a table beside a smiling young man opposite a Jewish money-lender who is about to hand over two money-bags. [14] 'Though Poor himself has a heart to feel for the sufferings of others'. He walks past a barred prison window, with a placard 'Pray Rem Debtor' (right), within which are four grotesque ruffians, one of whom holds a hat through the bars. He drops a coin into the hat, and gives another to a little beggar-boy (left). [15] 'Is arrested by his landlord for rent'. He stands pleading with a stout, surly-looking man (right). His weeping daughter, now a woman, stands between them. Behind him (left) is a ruffianly bailiff's man with a bludgeon. [16] 'Terminates his miseries in a Prison.' He sits in a dressing-gown in an arm-chair, his eyes closed. His daughter (left) puts her hand to his heart with an agonized expression. His son (right) covers his face with his hands.
The hero, who is handsome throughout, and his good-looking family are not caricatured, as are many of the other figures (parson, doctor, watchmen, &c). 12 October 1794