Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1759
The Oyster Seller
Paul Sandby's drawing of an oyster seller was meant to be turned into a print for a further series of his 'London Cries'. However, despite making numerous studies, such as this one, he never published more than the first series of twelve.
The oyster seller carries a basket of oysters and two wicker pint measures on his left arm, and an empty basket on his right shoulder. Sandby included oyster sellers in the printed series but the image is of two women carrying baskets on their heads.
Although now thought of as a luxury item, in the 18th century oysters were so cheap they were considered a food mainly for the working classes.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- 65.59/10
- Object name:
- The Oyster Seller
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Sandby, Paul
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1759
- Material:
paper, watercolour, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 193 mm, W 147 mm (paper), H 285 mm, W 238 mm (paper support), H 385 mm, W 334 mm (framed) (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.