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Jack Sprat Could Eat No Fat
Between Themselves - The Importance of a Platter
In several of the illustrations, the platter is the dominant central image
placed between Mr. and Mrs. Sprat, literally illustrating the line, "between
themselves." The plate, or rather a stack of plates, is so dominant that
it is depicted larger than life. This may be a way of calling attention
to the extremes in the way the Sprats are themselves depicted - Jack is
exaggerated to be exceedingly thin, angular and gangly while his wife is
extremely round, even in her face and hands. It is interesting to note that
Jack appears face forward with a fun-loving expression on his face as though
he is social and happy, while Mrs. Sprat is depicted in profile, expressionless,
actually focusing on a piece of food on her fork (in contrast to Jack, who
holds just a knife). As the oldest of the illustrations studied, this is
the first occurrence of another element in the attire of the couple common
to most of the drawings. In all but one illustration, Jack is depicted in
at the least a suit and most often in a tuxedo, in this example in tails.
Mrs. Sprat is depicted less consistently, sometimes, as seen here, dressed
in much lower class attire, often as that of a cook or maid. Mrs. Sprat's
attire may just be what is fashionable for the times, but in only two of
the illustrations is she shown in anything close to formal attire.
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