Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1872
A Watercresses Girl
'A Watercresses Girl', by Gustave Doré, depicts a barefoot young girl, wearing a hat and ragged-hemmed dress, holding a baby wrapped in a blanket, with a basket to her left. It was made around 1871-72, during the artist's second visit to London, when he was preparing illustrations for the publication of Blanchard Jerrold's 'London: A Pilgrimage'.
Watercress cost one penny for a small bunch or three bunches for two pence. Sellers often travelled seven to eight miles early in the morning to pick the fresh wild plant. It was also cultivated in gardens around London and sold at Covent Garden market. Sometimes watercress was adulterated with weeds.
- Category:
- Paintings, Prints & Drawings
- Object ID:
- 2008.83
- Object name:
- A Watercresses Girl
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Doré, Gustave
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1872
- Material:
chalk, graphite, paper
- Measurements/duration:
- H 285 mm, W 180 mm (paper), H 342 mm, W 330 mm (paper support)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 60%
- 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.