'Preparatory School for Young Ladies', 1840s.

One of two colour etchings by John Leech (1817-1864), lampooning the current fashion for cookery schools. This cartoon shows a group of young women being taught to cook. A man in the centre holds a book open on a page reading 'Gastronomic Regeneration', while the lady standing opposite him insists: 'If you please Sir, I think I know my Plum Pudding!'. Meanwhile the girl on the bench complains: 'Oh dear! I never shall learn this horrid omelette!'.