Punch and Judy is a traditional English puppet show based on the earlier 16th-century Italian commedia dell'arte. It features Mr Punch, who is violent and abusive, interacting with his wife Judy and other characters. Traditionally all of the puppets are controlled by a single puppeter. George Cruikshank provided the illsustrations to a book about the history and tradition of the Punch and Judy puppet show, which was very popular in England in the 18th century. The drawings are of historical value because they provide a visual record of how the stage was arranged and the appearance of the puppets.
