Beautiful, detailed steel engraving from the picture by William Powell Frith.
The crossing sweeperís job was to shovel the muck, keeping the streets clean for ladies whose long dresses and delicate slippers might get soiled and for gentlemen in their fine raiments.
The young urchins who swept the road considered themselves entitled to a "copper." Rough and ragged as are the boys who were crossing sweepers by profession, the majority of them rarely fell into the hands of the police for misdemeanors. They were of a different class from the pickpockets and vagrant classes who prowled about to make what prizes fell within their reach. A crossing in a great throughfareóa "broom-walk," as it was technically calledówas a lucrative post to hold.
Here we see a fair lady, whom, if she would only condescend to turn her glance on him, she could not resist his earnest appeal; but she is evidently measuring her distance as regards the approach of some vehicle.
Printed on heavyweight ivory/cream stock. Reverse side is blank.
Title (printed below image): The Crossing Sweeper
Publication: The Art Journal
Publication Year: 1864
Publisher: London: Virtue & Co., Ltd.
Approximate Page Size (in inches): 9 x 12.75
Approximate Image Size (in inches): 8 x 9.5
Condition: Excellent.
Library blind stamp* in margin goes slightly into image area, but does not detract from the beauty of this print.
*blind stamp: A colorless impression that is embossed on paper.
