Chimney Sweep Boy on Blackfriars Bridge, Cries of London, 1804

This is an original hand colored copper engraving, one of the Cries of London plates, lettered "A POOR SWEEP, SIR!" beneath the image. It shows a young chimney sweep begging on Blackfriars Bridge. The boy, in a green jacket, blue waistcoat and red breeches, holds out his hat in his right hand, at the viewer's left, and grips a broom in the other. The balustrade of the bridge curves away behind him, lined with lamps, and the dome and western towers of Saint Paul's Cathedral rise beyond.

The London setting is engraved in script above the image as "Blackfryars Bridge." and the cry in open capitals below it as "A POOR SWEEP, SIR!". The script title uses the old spelling "Blackfryars". At the lower left is the artist's credit "Craig del" (del., for delineavit, "drew it"), naming William Marshall Craig as the designer. Along the foot runs the imprint "Published April 25 1804 by Richard Phillips 71 St Pauls Church Yard", dating the plate to April 25, 1804.

The plate comes from Modern London; Being the History and Present State of the British Metropolis, printed for Richard Phillips of St. Paul's Church Yard by C. Mercier and Co. in 1804. Alongside its topographical views of the capital the book included a series of hand colored plates of London street traders, each figure shown in working dress against a named street, square or building, so that the set records both the trades and the appearance of the city at the time. The designs in the series are credited to the painter William Marshall Craig where the plates carry his name, as this one does.

The hand coloring and the named London setting make it a good choice for a hallway, kitchen or study, alone or hung with other plates from the series.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.