Rhubarb Seller in Russell Square, Cries of London, 1804

This is an original hand colored copper engraving, one of the Cries of London plates, lettered "RHUBARB!" beneath the image. It shows a rhubarb seller in Russell Square, dressed in a blue turban, a green jacket and full red trousers, with a moustache. He holds an open box of rhubarb root before him and a small pair of hand scales in his other hand. Behind him are the railings and trees of the square and a row of houses, with a stone gate pier at the left.

The London setting is engraved in script above the image as "Russell Square." and the cry in open capitals below it as "RHUBARB!". The script title uses a long s in the name. 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.