Shropshire Routes to Roots | Industrial development

4. Pictorial sources (People)

How can a picture provide us with historical information?

Introduction

Images of places or building can reveal how an area has changed over time. Images of people can show how the people who lived in an area were perceived. The style in which a person is portrayed can show what the painter or society thought of the subject being painted.

Portraits

Portraits are an interpretation, and may tell more about the painter's relationship to the sitter than anything factual about the person painted.

However they may also record historical information about the events or achievements of the time. The background, borders and detail may all provide information about the sitter's context in history.

This portrait shows a man sitting in a chair with a bridge behind him. The man's clothing suggests that he is prosperous, a gentleman or professional. The style of clothing dates him to the late Eighteenth or early Nineteenth century.

Behind him is a bridge. At a quick glance the bridge might be mistaken for the Iron Bridge. Although of iron construction it is not the "Iron Bridge" but one designed by Thomas Telford one of the great Civil engineers of the late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth century.

Thomas Telford was a famous bridge and canal builder but he is perhaps best known for his construction of roads. He was appointed Surveyor of Public Works for Shropshire in 1787.

Telford was held in high regard, and the serious and detailed portrait reflects this.

A black and white portrait of Thomas Telford [Opens in new window: image size 34kb]

Thomas Telford, Civil engineer.
Larger image, in a new window [34kb]
[Secret Shropshire:00014382]

Cartoons

In contrast with Telford's portrait, this image is a cartoon from the industrial age. It shows a man, William Tinkins, carrying the tools of his trade.

Can you see what these were?
What sort of work do you think he was employed in?
Do you think that he had a job that moved around or stayed in one location?

William Tinkins was in fact a Bellows Mender. He would have been in great demand on small industrial sites were the bellows were essential to maintain the heat of the furnace.

A hand-drawn cartoon of the Bellows Mender [Opens in new window: image size 162kb]

William Tinkins the Bellows Mender
Larger image, in a new window [162kb]
[Secret Shropshire:00014489]

Cartoons and caricatures are often an exaggerated interpretation of a person and may pull out unflattering details. Some make political comments. They can demonstrate society's perceptions of a person, showing whether they were held in high regard or were the subject of derision.

Continue

Page created December 2003 and last updated 1 August 2007

For your enquiries and comments please see the Who to contact page. Please read the general terms and conditions and accessibility information, including the use of the UK government accesskeys system.