Set of Four Cries of London Framed Plates by F Wheatley, Engraved BY A Cardon

Title: Set of Four Cries of London Framed Plates by F Wheatley, Engraved BY A Cardon.
Original Artist: Francis Wheatley, Royal Academy.
Engraver: Antoine Cardon (1772-1813) a Flemish engraver who moved to London where he specialized in stipple engraving.
Printed in England" on lower right of plate.
Info: Purchased In London 1975, from a dealer opposite the London Musuem.
French Translation Script on Print.
"Milk Below Maids"
"Round And Sound Fivepence A Pound Duke Cherries"
"Knives, Scissars and Razors to Grind"
"Hot Spice Gingerbread Smoking Hot!"
Height: 27cm.
Width: 21cm.
Depth: 1.5cm
Condition: Very Good, old framed reproduction prints.
Price: R 760.00 Inc Vat for the Set of Four Framed Plates.

Francis Wheatley exhibited his series of oil paintings entitled the “Cries of London” at the Royal Academy between 1792 and 1795. Two year earlier, the forty-one year old painter had been elected to the Academy in preference to the King’s nominee and, as a consequence, he never secured any further commissions for portraits from the aristocracy.

Born in Covent Garden in 1747, Wheatley was ideally qualified to portray these hawkers because he grew up amongst them and their cries, echoing in the streets around the market. You will recognise the old stone pillars of the market buildings that still stand today in a couple of these pictures, all of which could be located specifically in that vicinity.  However, these pictures are far from social reportage as we understand it, and you may notice a certain similarity between many of the women portrayed in these pictures, for whom it is believed Mrs Wheatley –  herself a painter and exhibitor at the Royal Academy – was the model. Look again, and you will also see that variants on the same ginger and white terrier occur throughout these paintings too.