Thomas Thornhill, MP ('Tom')

Chromolithograph by 'VER' (François Verheyden) from the long-running Vanity Fair caricature series. The plate shows Thomas Thornhill, MP, in strict profile, identified below simply as 'Tom' — the affectionate nickname signalling insider familiarity. Thornhill is rendered portly and self-satisfied, hands thrust behind his back, wearing a double-breasted frock coat and striped trousers, crowned by a tall silk hat. The exaggeration is physical rather than political: the rotund silhouette and slight forward lean do the satirical work. No pointed legislative argument is advanced; this is a social portrait — a backbench MP of sufficient club-world standing to merit inclusion in the 'Men of the Day' roster, ribbed for his girth rather than his votes.