Servant Collection (page 8)

Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Dame de la Cour, between c1678 and c1693. Creator: Nicolas Bonnart
Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Dame de la Cour, between c1678 and c1693

The Note, 17th century. Creator: Gabriel Metsu
The Note, 17th century

January: A Kitchen, published 1599. Creator: Antonio Tempesta
January: A Kitchen, published 1599. From The Twelve Months I, pl. 1

Untitled, c.1865. Creator: Samuel Bourne
Untitled, c.1865. Portrait of two couples with Indian servant

The Centenary Fete of the Asylum for Female Orphans - the Archbishop of Canterbury Saying Grace, 1858 Creator: Unknown
The Centenary Fete of the Asylum for Female Orphans - the Archbishop of Canterbury Saying Grace, 1858. The object of the charity is to provide a home for orphan girls

AI IMAGE - Illustration of Jeeves and Wooster, 1920s, (2023). Creator: Heritage Images
AI IMAGE - Illustration of Jeeves and Wooster, 1920s, (2023). Characters from PG Wodehouse's humorous novels, first appearing in print in 1915, about Bertie Wooster, an upper-class young man

The Feast of Anthony and Cleopatra, late 16th-early 17th century. Creator: Leandro Bassano
The Feast of Anthony and Cleopatra, late 16th-early 17th century. Note black child waiting on the Egyptian queen who touches her pearl earring

Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Page du Roy, 1675. Creator: Nicolas Bonnart
Recueil des modes de la cour de France, Page du Roy, 1675

Bringing in the Boar's Head, 1845. Creator: Richard Caton Woodville
Bringing in the Boar's Head, 1845

Single Leaf of Two Young Men Riding a White Elephant, early 11th century AH/AD 17th century. Creator: Unknown
Single Leaf of Two Young Men Riding a White Elephant, early 11th century AH/AD 17th century. The seated man is being served wine

Costumes de Différents Pays, Servantes et Bonze Mendiant Chinois, c1797. Creators: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Servantes et Bonze Mendiant Chinois, c1797

Laura de Dianti (died 1573). Creator: Anon
Laura de Dianti (died 1573), Unknown date

Costumes de Différent Pays, Servantes de Strasbourg, c1797. Creators: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, LF Labrousse
Costumes de Different Pays, Servantes de Strasbourg, c1797

A Prince with a Hawk and Ladies Hunting, between 1750 and 1775. Creator: Unknown
A Prince with a Hawk and Ladies Hunting, between 1750 and 1775

Women Crossing the Oi River, c1800. Creator: Utagawa Toyokuni I
Women Crossing the Oi River, c1800

Merchant and His Partner Conversing (verso)... c1580. Creator: Unknown
Merchant and His Partner Conversing (verso), Folio from a Tutinama (image 1 of 2), c1580

Yatsuhashi of Chumanjiya, 1831. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
Yatsuhashi of Chumanjiya, 1831

AI IMAGE - Victorian period kitchen with housekeeper and maid, 2023. Creator: Heritage Images
AI IMAGE - Victorian period kitchen with housekeeper and maid, 2023

Portrait of a Falconer Holding a Hawk on Gloved Right Hand (image 2 of 2), Late 16th century. Creator: Unknown
Portrait of a Falconer Holding a Hawk on Gloved Right Hand (image 2 of 2), Late 16th century. The domesticated and specially trained birds of prey were highly prized

Old Anna. From A Home (26 watercolours). Creator: Carl Larsson
Old Anna. From A Home (26 watercolours), Unknown date

Caucasian Prince in Chain Armour, and attendant; The Caucasus, 1875. Creator: Unknown
Caucasian Prince in Chain Armour, and attendant; The Caucasus, 1875. From Illustrated Travels by H.W. Bates. [Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, c1880, London] and Galpin

A Peruvian Belle; A Ramble in Peru, 1875. Creator: Unknown
A Peruvian Belle; A Ramble in Peru, 1875. From Illustrated Travels by H.W. Bates. [Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, c1880, London] and Galpin

The Marchioness (from Dickens "The Old Curiosity Shop"), mid 19th century. Creator: Alfred Jacob Miller
The Marchioness (from Dickens "The Old Curiosity Shop"), mid 19th century. The clerk, Dick Swiveller, plays cribbage while his masters are away:

Toilet of Helen, La Belle Hélène, 1914. Creator: Bryson Burroughs
Toilet of Helen, La Belle Helene, 1914. Helen of Troy making herself up at a very modern looking dressing-table while Troy burns in the background

The Servant, 19th century. Creator: Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguiere
The Servant, 19th century

The Guicowar of Baroda, visited by the Prince of Wales, 1876. Creator: Unknown
The Guicowar of Baroda, visited by the Prince of Wales, 1876. Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the boy-prince, welcomed the future King Edward VII to his palace at Vadodara, India

The Dream ("The Corinthian Bride"). Creator: Unknown. The Dream ("The Corinthian Bride")
The Dream ("The Corinthian Bride"), Unknown date. Alternative title: Nocturnal appearance or Night vision. Manner of Jacob Jordaens

Servant-Girl and Policeman, 1905. Creator: Ivar Arosenius
Servant-Girl and Policeman, 1905

The Begum of Bhopal and the Maharajah of Puttiala, 1876. Creator: Unknown
The Begum of Bhopal and the Maharajah of Puttiala, 1876. Engraving from a photograph by Shepherd and Bourne. The reigning family of Bhopal is Mohammedan and of Affghan race

Mughal prince sitting on an elephant, 1675-1700. Creator: Anon
Mughal prince sitting on an elephant, 1675-1700

Lady Pulling on her Stockings. Creator: Nicolas Lavreince
Lady Pulling on her Stockings, Unknown date

Lady Getting out of Bed, 1776. Creator: Nicolas Lavreince
Lady Getting out of Bed, 1776

Oda Harunaga and a Page with a Lantern, 1865. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Oda Harunaga and a Page with a Lantern, 1865. From 100 Ghost Tales from China and Japan

The Temple Page Shiragikumaru Wrestling a Green Demon, 1866. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
The Temple Page Shiragikumaru Wrestling a Green Demon, 1866. From Beauty and Valor in the Novel Suikoden

Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Creator: Kikugawa Eizan
Aimi of Maru Ebiya, 19th century. Series: Tour of the New Yoshiwara

Ariharano Tokihira and Matsuo Maru, 19th century. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
Ariharano Tokihira and Matsuo Maru, 19th century

AI Image - Illustration of Cinderella, 2023. Creator: Heritage Images
AI Image - Illustration of Cinderella, 2023. In the folk tale of "Cinderella", or "The Little Glass Slipper"

Narihira's Servant Delivering a Letter to Takako, c1766. Creator: Shunsho
Narihira's Servant Delivering a Letter to Takako, c1766. Series: Tales of Ise in Iroha Order

Gamo Sadahide's Servant, Toki Motosada, Hurling a Demon King to the Ground at Mount Inohana, 1890. From New Forms of the Thirty-six Ghosts

The Story of Priest Nitto at Emmeiin, 1885. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
The Story of Priest Nitto at Emmeiin, 1885. From A New Selection of Eastern Brocade Pictures

Costumes de Différents Pays, Bouquetieres de St. Domingue, c1797. Creator: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur
Costumes de Differents Pays, Bouquetieres de St. Domingue, c1797

Illustration from Tom Jones, published 1750. Creator: Jan Punt
Illustration from Tom Jones, published 1750

Ofuji of Omiya and her Servant, 1856. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
Ofuji of Omiya and her Servant, 1856. Man and Woman Playing Hanetsuki

The Courtesan Shinahara of Tsuruya with the Kamuro Shinobu, c1800. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
The Courtesan Shinahara of Tsuruya with the Kamuro Shinobu, c1800

Courtesan with Kamuro and Small Boy, c1830. Creator: Ikeda Eisen
Courtesan with Kamuro and Small Boy, c1830

The Hon. William Monson and His Wife, Ann Debonnaire, c1786. Creator: Arthur William Devis
The Hon. William Monson and His Wife, Ann Debonnaire, c1786

Maid from The Hague, 1775. Creator: Paulus Constantijn la Fargue
Maid from The Hague, 1775

Seal Carved as Temple Servant, 18th century. Creator: Unknown
Seal Carved as Temple Servant, 18th century

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"Unveiling the Unsung Heroes: The Power and Presence of Servants" From ancient times to modern eras, servants have played an intriguing role in history. Just like the enigmatic Venus of Urbino, depicted by Titian in 1538, they often remain hidden behind grandeur and opulence. In literature, we find iconic duos like Jeeves and Wooster, where a servant's wit and wisdom guide their master through hilarious misadventures. Similarly, Botticelli's masterpiece "Primavera" showcases nymphs dancing under the watchful eye of Flora - a symbol of beauty nurtured by unseen hands. Even royalty was not immune to the allure of devoted attendants. Queen Victoria found solace in her relationship with Abdul Karim - a tale that transcended societal norms during c. 1890-1900. Their bond mirrored that between Empress Theodora and Emperor Justinian I as portrayed in the Basilica of Saint Vitale. Servitude took many forms throughout history; from maids serving diligently in households during 1935 to café waiters like Garçon De Café in 1850s Paris who catered to patrons' every need with grace. Religious texts also acknowledge the significance of servanthood. A manuscript leaf from a Bible dating back to ca. 1280-1300 depicts Nehemias opening his book - reminding us that even leaders require assistance on their spiritual journeys. However, it is essential not to overlook darker chapters where servitude turned into exploitation. Saartje Baartman's tragic story as "The Hottentot Venus" serves as a poignant reminder that some were objectified for their physical attributes rather than valued for their humanity. Yet amidst these tales lies resilience and loyalty exemplified by figures such as Munshi Abdul Karim or Queen Victoria's trusted confidant Munshi himself – proving that genuine connections can transcend societal barriers.