"A midshipman, no longer young, in shirtsleeves, sits on a padlocked chest blacking a boot. He looks straight before him with a tragic expression. He wears his regulation top-hat, blue trousers, neatly patched, and waistcoat over a white shirt, and sits on the midshipman's coat which he has taken off. On the ground at his feet are a tray for blacking-brushes, a pot labelled Warrens Blacking 30 Strand, a broken dirk, top-boots, and shoes. Behind are houses on Tower Hill, with the moat. Behind (left) is an alehouse, with a pair of trousers hanging as a sign from a projecting flagstaff. Inset in the title is a group of sextant, telescope, a book: . . . ton More, &c, below the pawnbroker's sign of three balls."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state
Alternative Title:
Midshipman on half pay
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from text on earlier state: Engd. & pubd. ... by C. Hunt ..., Reissue, with new imprint statement, of a print published 1 June 1825 by Charles Hunt. Cf. No. 14921 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 10., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Published by Thos. McLean, 26 Haymarket
Subject (Geographic):
Tower Hill (London, England),
Subject (Topic):
Buildings, Sailors, British, Military officers, Boots, Brooms & brushes, Shoe shining, and Shoe polishes
