Answering the Emigrant's Letter (1850) by James Collinson

The painting shows cottage scene of a family, a man, woman, three children and baby, seated round a table in the corner of the room, writing a letter.

A family gathered together to write back to a friend or relation who has emigrated to Australia. Over a million people had emigrated in the ten years before Collins painted this picture. Hence, it was a subject of great interest to the public.
Answering the Emigrant's Letter (1850) by James Collinson