The Water-cress Girl; The Flower Girl. Engraved from the original in the posession of Jacob Wilkinson Esqr

Book Description

London: [the first:] J.R. Smith, W. Humphreys & Birchall; [the second:] J. Young, 9 September 1780 and 12 September 1784. Mezzotints, the first by John Raphael Smith, the second by John Young. 13 5/8 x 10 3/4; 13 5/8 x 10 5/8 inches. 18 3/8 x 13 1/2; 17 5/8 x 12 3/4 inches. Two very fine mezzotints by two of the greatest engravers of their day, after the society artist Joseph Zoffany. These two fine character studies represent what are probably Zoffany's only two works in this genre, and perhaps were one of the inspirations for Francis Wheatley's well-known series: the Cries of London. It is interesting to note that John Young produced his own version of The Water-cress Girl' (published 1 January 1785), at which time both of the original paintings were in the collection of Jacob Wilkinson. Given the publication date of the present John Raphael Smith version of The Water-cress Girl, it seems likely that both paintings were produced shortly after Zoffany's return from Italy in 1779. The second image was printed after Zoffany had left for India in 1783. John Young, presumably in an effort to capitalise on the success of the present two images, published two works in a similar vein after J.G. Huck (The Oyster Girl and The Grape Girl) in April 1786.

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