Sweet China Oranges, sweet China!

This print is taken from Francis Wheatley's series 'Cries of London', which was engraved and published at the end of the 18th century.

In this romanticised image, a Jewish man is depicted carrying a basket of oranges and offering the fruit to two well-dressed women. One lady holds an orange, while the other reaches into her purse.

During the 18th century, Jewish immigrants arrived in London and many established themselves as street traders. Selling fruit was a common means of employment and street criers were a regular sight and noise on London's streets. The print takes its titles from the fruit-seller's cry of 'Sweet China Oranges, sweet China!'

The artist Francis Wheatley exhibited regularly at the Society of Artists, where he won awards early in his career for drawing the human figure. As well as small-scale and full-length portraits, Wheatley also painted landscapes in both oil and watercolour. In 1769 Wheatley was one of the first students to be admitted to the newly-opened Royal Academy schools.