"A lamp-lighter (left) stands dejectedly on his ladder which rests against a stone obelisk supporting a lamp whose glass is broken. The light has been extinguished by a blast from the head of a cherub emerging from clouds (right). A man wearing a cocked hat standing by the lamp-post tries in vain to get a spark from a flint. A stout citizen bends over a cup held by an old woman seated on the right, he stirs it and blows upon it, evidently trying to kindle a light. A dog befouls the obelisk. '. . . Ce Committé se donne bien dela peine pour allumer la grande lanterne. Mais - le vent siffie - les verres sont cassé - comment les raccomoder ? - ' Text, 'Job', xviii. 5."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Artist identified as Hess and printmaker questionably identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Place and date of publication from British Museum catalogue., Possibly published by Hannah Humphrey. See British Museum catalogue., One of twenty plates published as a bound set entitled: Hollandia regenerata., Plate numbered "9" in upper left corner., With: Letterpress explanation in French that includes appropriate texts from the Bible in Dutch and in English., Temporary local subject terms: Holland: civil discord -- Committees: committee of public instruction -- Lamp-lighters -- Lighting: lamps -- Dutchmen., and Letterpress explanation lacking.
