A watercolour caricature of the writer and historian Thomas Carlyle: standing to right, leaning on a stick. Inscribed: 'PHILOSOPHY / Liter.Philos. Tom. Carlyle'.

This is one of a series of watercolour caricatures made by Sem, a French-born artist who worked for the magazine The Hornet from the 1870s, probably acquired by Alexandra, Princess of Wales. The caricatures appear to fall into two groups - a set of politicians, and a set where each figure depicted represents a specific accomplishment, activity or vocation. Carlyle here represents philosophy. Other such watercolours by Sem are in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, and the Garrick Club, London. These caricatures do not appear to have been reproduced. 

This drawing is housed in an album compiled by Queen Alexandra. For other items in the volume see Queen Alexandra's Scrapbook.