Hallelujah Bessie

Category

Library Item

Item no

11344

Title

Hallelujah Bessie

Description

A woman in a long blue skirt, white apron and yellow blouse raises her fist at an unseen provocation.

The poet, Donald Campbell has written a poem inspired by this character by Holt:

Hallelujah!
Up from the Abbey Strand
the parade will be progressing
with Bessie in command.
If you want her blessing
you need to mind your dressing
for there will be no messing -
Hallelujah!
while Bessie leads the band!

Artist / maker

Holt, Edward P.

Date

1871

Size

23.7 x 14.4 cm

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edward Holt was an Edinburgh caricaturist and figure painter working in the second half of the nineteenth century. This bound volume contains a large proportion of his surviving work.
There is a little uncertainty over Edward Holt's name. He is sometimes referred to as Edmund and was more commonly known as Ned.

(The identification of this character is based on available information but remains uncertain.)

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Garments > Aprons

Clothing and dress > Garments > Blouses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Skirts

People > Adults > Women

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh