A street scene. Lord belgrave leans from a window, a large bible in one hand, the other resting on the sill and on an 'act to prevent sabbath breaking among the poor'. He glares down at a noisy crowd which fills the space between his house and a house where through two wide-open sash-windows are visible the performers in a private and fashionable concert: two vocalists scream, accompanied by a lady pianist and by two violins, a 'cello, and flute. 'milbank', on the street corner, indicates grosvenor house. The crowd chiefly consists of newsboys who scream and blow their horns. A boy with the '[sunda]y observer' screams "bloody great news", looking up at belgrave. A man with ninth edition displayed on his hat shouts "bloody news - great news from general s'warro" [see bmsat 9408, &c], but holds up the 'sunday reformer', inscribed 'the trial of l. G. [lady grosvenor] for adultry' [for the sensational suit of 'crim. Con. ' brought in 1770 by belgrave's father against the duke of cumberland, see bmsats 4400, 4845, &c. ]. There are six others, with the inscribed caps worn by newsboys (cf. Bmsat 5200): the 'volunter' [sic], 'informer', 'sun[day] moniter' blow horns; two 'sunday review' boys scream "bloody news", as does 'bells weekly messenger'. A milkmaid with her pails screams "milk" below; a man with milk-pails: "milk, pretty maids". Two fish-wives shout "new mackarel" and mackarel; one of these wears a military coat. 25 june 1799
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1799. Dimensions: Height: 261 mm; Width: 389 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster. Collection: British Museum. The enraged politician or the Sunday reformer or a noble belman crying stinking fish (BM 1868,0808.12539)
Loading...
