Russian Hatter and Chimney Sweep, Russian Women and a Baptism, 1842

This is an original antique lithograph, hand colored, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). In the upper image a bearded hatter in a red fur trimmed cap and a long tan coat with a yellow trimmed belt carries a dark sack on his back and talks with a chimney sweep in a broad hat and dark coat, who shoulders a long handled brush. At the right two Russian women stand together, one in a blue pointed cap with a basket, a white apron and a striped skirt, the other in a red fur cap and a green dress trimmed in yellow, a long braid down her back. The lower image shows a baptism in a church. A priest in a brightly patterned vestment holds a naked infant over a tall font, beside a woman in a green veil with a cloth and a tall candlestick. A man in a blue coat crosses himself, a man at the left swings a smoking censer, a cleric in white stands behind, women in red hoods watch at the right and a woman kneels in the foreground before latticed doors and a hanging banner.

The plate is lettered "Tav. 95" at the upper left, "RUSSIA" in the center and "Tom. IV" at the upper right. The upper captions read "Cappellajo e Spazzacamino russi" (Russian hatter and chimney sweep) and "Russe" (Russian women), and the lower caption reads "Battesimo dei Russi" (baptism of the Russians).

In the Orthodox rite the infant is immersed in the font, and the priest, the sponsors and candles are central to the ceremony.

The busy church scene rewards close looking and suits a study or a collection of Russian subjects.

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