William Heath (pseud Paul Pry)
Stratagem better than Force - -
London, T. McLean, (c. 1829)
Etching
Original hand-colouring
260x370mm
£240
An old woman and two little sweeps try in vain to move an ass laden with a big bag of soot. One boy tugs at the head, the other puts a thorn branch under the tail, the woman thrashes it furiously with a broom. On the right a costermonger’s donkey gallops off heavily laden with panniers of carrots &c., and with the costermonger, Irish in type, seated on its hind quarters; he holds a bunch of carrots tied to a stick in front of the animal’s nose and turns to wave his hat with a triumphant grin at the stationary group. On the horizon to the right can be seen the some of St Paul’s.
BM15959