Benjamin Holbrook, shown full-length in profile, walking to the left, holding with a long white staff in his right hand, clutching two memorandum books in his left hand, heading towards Fleet Market, with the west front of St. Paul’s Cathedral visible in the background. His eyes being closed and the presence of the staff indicate his blindness, and the patched elbow of his three-quarter-length coat his poverty
Description:
Title from ink inscription in lower left portion of image., Signed with the artist's initials and dated in lower right corner., Numbered "25" in top center., For the related print, entitled "Ben Holbrook, the walking stationer" and published 16 July 1783 by William Wells, see Catalogue of engraved British portraits preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, v. 2, page 542, no. 1., and Mounted with narrow paper mount.
Subject (Name):
Holbrook, Benjamin, active 1783, and St. Paul's Cathedral (London, England),
Subject (Topic):
Peddlers, Blind persons, Staffs (Sticks), and Stationery
"A blind beggar, Sir Cecil Wray, is led (right to left) by his dog, round whose neck hangs a 'Subscription Box'. He supports himself by a long staff; in his left hand is the dog's cord, and under his left arm is a larger box, inscribed 'Subscription Scrutiny Box'. He sings: "Pity the Weak, and Needy pray, Oh pity me, I've lost the day." Behind the dog is a placard inscribed: "See here the Dog, of all his kind, The fittest for a Beggar blind, The Beast can bark or grunt as Hog. His name is Churchill - Oh the Dog!"."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker and month of publication from British Museum catalogue., Four lines of verse below title: Ye Christians charitable, good and civil, pray something give to this poor wandering devil ..., Plate from: The history of the Westminster election., Temporary local subject terms: Buildings: Covent Garden Church -- Allusion to scrutiny -- Allusion to John Churchill of Westminster., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 21.3 x 15.2 cm, on sheet 21.5 x 15.6 cm., Sheet trimmed to plate mark on top edge., and Formerly mounted on leaf 75 of volume 1 of 14 volumes.
Publisher:
Publd. 11th [May] 1784 by H. Humphrey, No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Great Britain. Parliament and Wray, Cecil, Sir, 1734-1805
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1784, Politics and government, Blind persons, Staffs (Sticks), and Dogs
