Frugal Collection

Curius Dentatus refusing bribes from Samnites
Manius Curius Dentatus, Roman consul and plebeian hero, though living on turnips, refuses bribes from the Samnites. He is noted for ending the Samnite War

Advert for the Ministry of Food 1940
The weeks food facts No. 6. If you eat more than you need, you are wasting food as surely as if you had thrown it away. So eat what you need, but no more. Buy wisely and cater strictly

Officers commanding the Indian native troops in France during WWI, seen here eating a frugal lunch (litho)
3252868 Officers commanding the Indian native troops in France during WWI, seen here eating a frugal lunch (litho); Private Collection; (add.info)

Johann Friedrich Oberlin (1740-1826) Lutheran philanthropist and pastor in the Vosges region of France
530191 Johann Friedrich Oberlin (1740-1826) Lutheran philanthropist and pastor in the Vosges region of France, cooking a frugal meal and reading. Wood engraving c1880.; Universal History Archive/UIG

James McRory Smith, a former Black Watch soldier from Dumbarton aged 67, lives as a recluse in a dilapidated shepherds bothy at Strathchailleach, in the wilds of Sutherland, near Cape Wrath

The Miser, 1858-1859. Creator: James Abbott McNeill Whistler
The Miser, 1858-1859

A Frugal Meal (w / c)
6199879 A Frugal Meal (w/c) by Blommers or Bloomers, Bernardus Johannes (1845-1914); 51.4x41.3 cm; The McManus, Dundee, UK; Dundee Art Galleries and Museums; Dutch, out of copyright

Cincinnatus in Retirement, published by E. D Archery in 1782 (hand-coloured etching)
NCO191714 Cincinnatus in Retirement, published by E. D Archery in 1782 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); 22.5x31.5 cm; Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College

The Penny Wedding, A Sketch, 1830 (oil on panel)
CH445127 The Penny Wedding, A Sketch, 1830 (oil on panel) by Wilkie, David (1785-1841); 20.6x35.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: see also 167644; ); Photo eChristies Images; Scottish

Temeprance enjoying a Frugal Meal, pub. 1792 (hand coloured engraving)
3025381 Temeprance enjoying a Frugal Meal, pub. 1792 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info)

Ms Hunter 252 f. 133v Meal, from Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles, 1462 (vellum)
GUL174569 Ms Hunter 252 f.133v Meal, from Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles, 1462 (vellum) by French School, (15th century); Glasgow University Library

Hettie Green, 1905 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381450 Hettie Green, 1905 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 33X22.2 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Cincinnatus in Retirement, pub. 1782 (hand coloured engraving)
2655362 Cincinnatus in Retirement, pub. 1782 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Poor Actresss Christmas Dinner, 19th century (oil on canvas)
AMO98796 The Poor Actresss Christmas Dinner, 19th century (oil on canvas) by Martineau, Robert Braithwaite (1826-69); 36x47 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK; eAshmolean Museum; English

Study for Penny Wedding, 1817 (w / c on paper)
FIT167644 Study for Penny Wedding, 1817 (w/c on paper) by Wilkie, David (1785-1841); 12x19.7 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

The nuns of Anglet (b / w photo)
6025437 The nuns of Anglet (b/w photo) by European Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The nuns of Anglet)

Dinner-Time, Zululand (b / w photo)
3092419 Dinner-Time, Zululand (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dinner-Time, Zululand)

The Money Counter, (oil on canvas)
827217 The Money Counter, (oil on canvas) by Massani, Pompeo (1850-1920); 31x26 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Money Counter. Pompeo Massani (1850-1920). Oil on canvas

Study for Penny Wedding, 1817, (1946). Creator: David Wilkie
Study for Penny Wedding, 1817, (1946). The penny wedding, common in Scotland, was a marriage ceremony where each guest paid a penny towards the expenses (for the food and the musicians)

A farmer sits in the farm kitchen, Co Clare, Ireland
An elderly farmer sits in the farm kitchen and puts the kettle over the peat fire. He wears a cloth cap and wellington boots. Co Clare, Ireland. See also 12445690 - 1247384 Date: 1990

Reducing the Gas Bill
Comic illustration by Lawson Wood (1878-1957) showing a Scottish man blowing into his gas supply in an attempt to reduce bills watched by his son in a tartan kilt

Cartoon, Anti-Saccharites, or John Bull and his Family leaving off the use of Sugar, by James Gillray. Showing John Bull and his wife (actually King George III and Queen Charlotte)

Graphic front cover - Sir Arthur Yapp
Sir Arthur Yapp (1869-1936), Deputy President of the YMCA and Director of Food Economy during the First World War. Responsible for encouraging the nation towards frugal

Suffragette, Simple Life - Dinner-Time. Sandal wearing couple enjoying the Simple Life - fresh air and a frugal meal sat at the dinner table

Lady Kindersley as a waste paper merchant, WW1
Lady Kindersley, formerly Miss Gladys Beadle, pictured near her home in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, collecting waste paper with the aid of her children and two donkey carts

The National Dress, 1918
Mrs Allan Hawkey, inventor of the national standard dress, modelling its versatility exclusively for The Sketch magazine in 1918

Daniel Dancer (engraving)
XJF438413 Daniel Dancer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Daniel Dancer (b.1716) notorious English miser; ); English, out of copyright

Man with a Glass of Wine (oil on panel)
XIR39136 Man with a Glass of Wine (oil on panel) by Portuguese School, (15th century); 63x43.5 cm; Louvre, Paris, France; (add.info.: l homme au verre du vin; ); Portuguese, out of copyright

Londoners come with prams, carts, in fact anything on wheels for the morning ration of 28 lb of coke from the yard of Nine Elms Gas Works, London

Anti lipstick. Gowns now not be damaged now. To save expensive fabrics being damaged by rouged lips when gowns are being tried on, a Hollywood film studio has introduced a new device

A Mail Box Bank
United States: c. 1955. A personal savings bank in the form of a mailbox given away by The San Francisco Bank to customers to encourage savings

Ministry of Food advertisement
Advertisement by the Ministry of Food advising the British population to eat home-grown salads which are cool, refreshing and health-giving. And - above all - avoid waste and save shipping. Date: 1940

Donkey, adult, close-up of head, feeding on twig, Gambia, january

Shadow drawing. C. H. Bennett, Save-all
Save-All. A man frugal with his money, possibly Scottish judging by his outfit, sits by candle light with his feet in a tub of water eating an unappetising bowl of something

The all Scotch Spirit
Comic illustration by Lawson Wood showing a miserly Scottish driver filling up his cigarette lighter with petrol from the pump at a filling station

The Cobbler & Financier
THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN A rich financier gives a frugal cobbler a large sum of money; previously happy, the cobbler now finds he can t sleep for fear of thieves Date: circa 1870

1795 / Cartoon / Powder
Leaving Off Powder, or A Frugal Family saving the Guinea. A response to Pitts tax on hair-powder

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"Embracing Frugality: A Glimpse into the Art of Thrift and Moderation" Step back in time as we explore the timeless concept of frugality through various artistic expressions. From ancient Rome to 19th-century paintings, these captivating pieces shed light on the importance of living within one's means and finding contentment in simplicity. In an advert for the Ministry of Food from 1940, frugal hints were shared during a challenging era, encouraging people to make every penny count. Just like Curius Dentatus refusing bribes from Samnites, these historical figures exemplify integrity and steadfastness in their pursuit of financial prudence. Even cartoons conveyed messages about frugality. The Anti-Saccharites cartoon served as a reminder to limit excessive sugar consumption—a lesson that resonates even today when considering our health and finances simultaneously. James Abbott McNeill Whistler's painting "The Miser" captures a moment frozen in time where material possessions take precedence over all else. This thought-provoking artwork challenges us to reflect on our own relationship with money and possessions. "A Frugal Meal, " depicted by an unknown artist, showcases how simple yet satisfying food choices can bring joy amidst scarcity. Similarly, "Temperance enjoying a Frugal Meal" portrays the virtue of moderation while nourishing both body and soul. Historical engravings such as "Cincinnatus in Retirement" (1782) highlight individuals who chose humble lifestyles despite holding positions of power. These images remind us that wealth does not define happiness or fulfillment; rather, it is found within ourselves. "The Penny Wedding, " painted by an anonymous artist in 1830, illustrates how love triumphs over opulence as couples celebrate their union without breaking the bank. Such scenes inspire us to prioritize meaningful connections over extravagant displays.