Political cartoon exhibited at the Women's Exhibition

Political cartoon in model or 'peepshow' exhibited at the Women's Exhibition, May 1909. The two week Women's Exhibition, held at Prince's Skating Rink, Knighstbridge was organised by the Women's Social and Political Union both to raise funds and the profile of the Suffragette campaign. Educating visitors about the political debate and government intransigence on the issue of female suffrage was also a key purpose of the Exhibition. This image depicts number 5 of the 12 'satirical peepshows' created for the exhibition that ridiculed the Asquith government and, therefore, proved hugely popular with the visitors. Entitled The Angel of the House' the cartoon represents a scene from the House of Commons. The model is described in the exhibition catalogue as depicting 'The three ministers, Mr Asquith, Mr Lloyd George and Mr H. Gladstone, as small boys, are seen running away from a procession of Suffragettes, while a huge policeman says, benevolently: 'Never mind, my little men, I'll protect you'.
This model was based on a cartoon by A.Patriot (Alfred Pearse) that appeared on the front cover of Votes for Women on 26th February 1909.