Bored Gallery

'My Second Sermon', 1864, (1947). Creator: John Everett Millais

'My Second Sermon', 1864, (1947). 'The Artist's Daughter in Winchelsea Church': portrait of Millais' daughter Effie, aged about five, having fallen asleep during the service. The location was probably All Saints Church at Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey. A companion piece, painted a year or so earlier, shows her sitting upright and looking somewhat daunted during her first sermon. Painting in the Guildhall Art Gallery, London. From "English Hymns and Hymn Writers", by Adam Fox. [Collins, London, 1947]

© The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'Paul Before Felix', 18th century.Artist: DB Pyet

'Paul Before Felix', 18th century. Paul, with his hands chained, stands before the governor Felix, defending himself. A Roman soldier to the left of Paul leans against his spear looking very bored. Two men at the feet of Paul take down what he is saying. A concerned Felix takes the hand of a worried looking woman. On the right of Felix a man leans his head on his hand looking as if he has heard enough. The caption says that Felix trembled as Paul talked of righteousness, temperance and judgment.

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

'A Morning Concert', 1865. Artist: Fritz Eltze

'A Morning Concert', 1865. A husband nods off to sleep in the front row of a concert. His wife scolds him. A man in the row behind looks to the ceiling, perhaps praying for the concert to end. Social events amongst the middle and upper classes often centred around music, and morning concerts were very popular. Mr Punch takes a topical dig at this entirely blameless pastime by having a little fun at the expense of those gentlemen who, as they might during a long and tedious sermon, succumb to sleep. However, with the wife's outraged hiss at her husband, Punch is also enjoying a dig at the quality of the average church sermon. From Punch, or the London Charivari, November, 1865.

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images