Do you want any brick-dust

description below

“A pretty young maidservant stands on a doorstep (right) while a man, Irish in appearance, gazes insinuatingly into her face as he fills her bowl with brick-dust from a jar. He has an ass which stands patiently, a double sack pannier-wise across his back and a second jar or measure standing on the sack. The profile of a shrewish old woman looks through the door at the couple, who are intent on each other. A dog barks at the girl. Behind is a street, the nearer houses tall the farther ones lower and gabled. At the doorway opposite a woman appears to be giving food to a poor woman and child. A man and woman lean from the attic windows of adjacent houses to converse. A little chimney-sweep emerges from a chimney, waving his brush.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Merke, Henri, printmaker.
  • Title: Do you want any brick-dust [graphic] / Rowlandson delin. ; Merke sculp.
  • Publication: London : Pub. Feb. 20, 1799, at R. Ackermann’s, 101 Strand, [20 February 1799]

Catalog Record

799.02.20.03+

Acquired April 2023

The march of intellect

description below

An aspirational dustman in ragged clothes, a monocle hanging from his hat, and smoking a cigar, sits in a chair before the hearth reading a book, “An introduction to the pleasures of … schince by Barnart Botherum […] dedicated to the majesty of the people”. On the table are bowl, a goblet and a bottle of Port. On the wall hangs a landscape and on the mantel a bust of Shakespeare. The dog at his feet stares at the fire, the bones of fish dinner on a plate beside him. A large bell sits on the floor beside the dustman.

 

  • Printmaker: Heath, Henry, active 1824-1850, printmaker.
  • Title: The march of intellect [graphic] / H. Heath del.
  • Publication: London : Published April 1828 by S. Maunder, 10 Newgate Street, [April 1828]

Catalog Record

828.04.00.03

Acquired June 2022

Symmetry

description below

Two men stand on the sidewalk under a street lamp, one of whom is a dustman with a pipe sticking out of his cap who asks the other, a large tradesman in an apron about his emaciated, muzzled dog. The dialogue below the title reads: I say Joe, what makes you Muzzle Brutus? Vy he’s such a beggar for grub, he’d spile his shape in 5 minnits if it was off, and he only got sight of a butcher’s shop

  • Title: Symmetry [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Published by G. Tregear, 123 Cheapside, London, [not after 1833]

Catalog Record

833.00.00.17+

Acquired February 2022

The female agent

description below

“Heading to etched verses. Mrs. Clarke, seated on a dais, receives applicants for commissions who advance through a doorway (left). She sits on a drum, wearing a cocked hat and military sash over a white dress, and holds up a sword. A short fat soldier holds over her head a Union flag with the white horse of Hanover. Two soldiers stand at attention with fixed bayonets behind her, and a fat trumpeter blows his trumpet. Another Union flag, without the white horse, flies from the corner of the large dais. On the wall hangs a notice: ‘Half-pay Commissions at Half Price for Ready Money’. The applicants press forward in a bunch, headed by a fat and gouty ‘cit’ hobbling on two sticks, behind whom is a chimneysweep. The first of three verses: ‘Come all you brave Fellows who wish for Promotion. Wether Captain or Colonel or a General’s your notion. A Warehouse I keep for the sale of Commissions, And our Prices you’ll find will suit all conditions, You’ll be treated with Honor if you secrecy mark Sir For my Master is Noble and I am his Clarke Sir, You’ll be treated &c.’ The last lines: ‘But forget not the ready (Gold or Notes) for pray mark! My Master wants Money, & so does his Clarke. But forget not &c.’ The verses are bordered by spears which serve as posts for plump purses, symmetrically attached to them.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: The female agent [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. March 1809 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill, [March 1809]

Catalog Record

809.03.00.05+

Acquired June 2020

Sporting characters

Detailed description below
On recto, two men walk to the left in a wood with guns. The man behind (right) holds his gun by the barrel pointed towards his companion’s posterior; he wears colored spectacles, a top hat, and is smoking a cigar. The man in front (left) looks back towards his companion as he holds his rifle by the butt, the barrel pointed over his shoulder at his companion’s face. The lines below: “I never likes to go out with a man as don’t carry his gun like a sportsman.” “Not I. I’m always wery particular.!”

On verso, a pencil drawing of two men (dustmen?) conversing as one points to the donkey that he holds by the reins.

Catalog Record 

Drawings H43 no. 1 Box D125

Acquired February 2019

The itinerant chancellor

Four rows of designs with one to three designs in each, individually titled.

  • CreatorGrant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, lithographer, artist.
  • TitleThe itinerant chancellor [graphic] ; [and 9 other designs] / C.J. Grant invent., del. & lith.
  • PublicationLondon : Published by J. Kendrick, 54 Leicester Square …, [1 October 1834]
  • Manufacture[London] : Printed by Dean & Munday …

Catalog Record 

834.10.01.01+

Acquired November 2017

A sweep-ing reform among the clergy

Two policemen are shown arresting chimney sweeps, roughly pulling one by the arm and another pushing an adult chimney sweep away while carrying four little boys on his back or in his arm. Two chimney sweeps on the left and one on the right complain of the crackdown on their trade.

  • PrintmakerGrant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852, printmaker.
  • TitleA sweep-ing reform among the clergy [graphic] / C.J.G.
  • Publication[London] : Printed and published by G. Drake, 12, Houghton Street, Clare Market, [ca. 1833]

Catalog Record and Digital Collection

Folio 75 G750 833 Copy 2 (Oversize) no. 55

Acquired December 2016

A street accident

lwlpr34664-1024x726

A dustman bends over a large woman who has fallen and lifts her by placing his hands under her arms. She looks up angerly and shakes her fist at the dustman’s young assistant in an apron who looks on (left) with a smile and hand raised. Two dogs jump around the group.

  • CreatorNixon, John, -1818, artist.
  • Title[A street accident] [art original].
  • Production[England], [not before 1804]

Catalog Record &Digital Collection

Drawings N736 no. 6

Acquired August 2016

The Piccadilly nuisance!

Click for larger image

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, George, 1792-1878, printmaker.
  • Title: The Piccadilly nuisance! [graphic] : dedicated to the worthy, acting magistrates of the district / G. Cruikshank sculpt.
  • Published: [London] : Pubd. by Thos. McLean, 26 Haymarket, Augt. 1st, 1835.

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

835.08.01.50+

Acquired April 2013