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THE SAILOR'S WEDDING STOCK NO R538

THE SAILOR'S WEDDING STOCK NO R538
SOLD


PRICE:     SOLD
 
PRINT BY:  John June (fl.1747 - 70)  
AFTER/ARTIST: June   
PUBLISHER:     Mary Cooper
DATE:     10th November 1747
METHOD:   Etching with engraved verse  
IMAGE SIZE:   11.75 by 9.0 inches including verse 

NOTES: ‘The sailors fleet wedding entertainment’, a fascinating piece of social comment, very much in the manner of Hogarth but by John June.
This print was featured in the British Museum exhibition, ‘LONDON 1753’ - a large and excellent exhibition, mostly of prints, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the British Museum, held Autumn 2003.
There is a very thorough book accompanying the exhibition, and this has a full page width reproduction of this print, along with its companion print, ‘A Fleet Wedding’, issued one month earlier. The catalogue is by Sheila O’Connell,  ‘London 1753’, British Museum Press 2003, 273 pages and generously illustrated in colour and B&W .
The print refers to a well known piece of London folklore. At a sea battle off Cape Finisterre, Admiral Anson defeated two French squadrons. Many sailors apparently returned to London with prize money in their pockets - and were a target for being fleeced !! 
This print shows the wedding feast, taking place by the look of it in a pub. A very amusing and long verse at the bottom suggests that the groom has perhaps not married quite the innocent young lady that he had imagined! According to the BM account, the men in the doorway are Bailiffs, sent to recover the cost of the bride’s outfit ! Full of interesting social detail. The table shows glasses, candlesticks and a punchbowl.
The print is also very interesting as being published by Mary Cooper, who apparently took over running her husband’s business in Paternoster Row.


CONDITION:  Fine, the print trimmed inside the platemark but with a contemporary new margin glued round. This margin has a small tear, repaired to the rear. The front is clean, but light foxing can been seen from the rear.


NEED SOME MORE INFORMATION or time before you buy?  You can RESERVE this print straightaway for a week BY EMAIL, while you make up your mind, with absolutely no obligation !!  Would you like more background info?   A larger image?   A condition report?   JUST EMAIL US NOW !!

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