"Portrait of broomseller and centenarian John Tait; whole length, standing in profile to right, wearing a patched coat with a bag in the pocket and a broad-brimmed hat, carrying brooms under his left arm, holding a staff in his right hand."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Copy of a print by A. Baillie after a drawing by W. Baillie. See: Catalogue of engraved British portraits preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, v. 4, page 242., For a later state with the number "220" etched below lower right corner of image, see: A series of original portraits and caricature etchings by the late John Kay. Edinburgh : Paton, 1877, v. 2, no. 220., Three lines of text etched below title: Old John Tait the besom maker who travelled the country begging and selling besoms till he arrived at the age of one hundred & ten years. Died in Jany. 1772 leaving Young John and 27 other descendants., "From an original print by J.K."--At bottom of plate., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark on top and bottom edges.
