Chimney Sweep with Soot Bag at the Foundling Hospital, Cries of London, 1804

This is an original hand colored copper engraving, one of the Cries of London plates, lettered "SWEEP SOOT O." beneath the image. It shows a chimney sweep at the gate of the Foundling Hospital. Bent under a large black soot bag slung over his shoulder, he wears a yellow cap, a blue jacket and red breeches and carries a brush. He passes through an open gate between stone piers, with an ironwork lamp bracket above and the buildings of the hospital beyond.

The London setting is engraved in script above the image as "Foundling Hospital." and the cry in open capitals below it as "SWEEP SOOT O.". No artist or engraver is named on this plate. 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. Several plates in the series carry the credit of the painter William Marshall Craig; this one is unsigned.

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.