The painful moment of parting, the grandparents are farewelling the younger members of their family realising they may never see them again. Shoes would have been purchased for the children who were travelling as it was uncommon for them to wear shoes. There was a strict limit on the number of children accepted for emigration, only three children under ten and two under seven.
Paul Falconer Poole
England 1807–79
The Emigrants' Departure 1838
oil on panel
67.3 x 91.5 cm
Private collection, Victoria