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This sketch shows several of the navvies who built the London and Birmingham Railway, working, relaxing and sleeping. It also shows a sleeping dog and several onlookers, intrigued by the development of the railway. In addition Bourne wrote some notes on the sketch, describing the images as ‘Jacks Whiteheaded Bob/Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘The main spring of /human action’. His realistic depiction of human endeavour was unusual for this period, as most artists were drawing images of idyllic rural scenes and innocent peasants.
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