A New Love Song only ha'penny a piece (Cries of London, Plate 11)
Print on paper, likely a stipple engraving or later photogravure/color lithographic reproduction • After Francis Wheatley (1747–1801); Engraved by Anthony Cardon (1772–1813)
Style & Movement
English Neoclassical / Romantic Genre Painting; Georgian era
Medium & Technique
Hand-colored stipple engraving (original method); this specific example appears to be a color reproduction with printed tones to simulate the original 18th-century wash
Creation Period
Original design 1796; this specific physical print appears to be a late 19th or early 20th-century reproduction based on the paper tone and clarity of the lettering
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 14 x 11 inches (image size); vertical portrait orientation
Subject Description
A street scene in London depicting a ballad seller offering her 'Love Songs' to a group of onlookers including a gentleman, a child, and a woman holding an infant. Part of a famous series documenting the street hawkers of London with a sentimentalized, idealized view of the working class.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The print shows even toning and some minor light-staining consistent with age and long-term framing.
Estimated Market Value
50 USD - 150 USD (for a 20th-century reproduction); original late 18th-century strikes carry significantly higher value.
Auction Estimate
40 USD - 80 USD
Provenance History
Published originally by Colnaghi & Co. in 1796. This specific item lacks visible gallery labels or collector stamps, suggesting it was likely a decorative household acquisition in the mid-20th century.
Art Historical Significance
Wheatley's 'Cries of London' is one of the most famous series in British printmaking history. It shifted the depiction of the poor from the raw, satirical style of Hogarth to a more 'picturesque' and palatable sentimentalism that appealed to the growing middle class.
Notable Features
Includes the bilingual title in English and French ('Chanson nouvelles deux sols le livret'), which was common for the export market of the 1790s. Features the Plate 11 designation and the publisher's line indicating the March 1st, 1796 publication date.
Condition Issues
Slight yellowing of the paper (acidification from original wood backing or matting), minor reflection in the glass suggests a non-museum grade glazing, and possible slight fading of the red pigments in the woman's skirt.
Conservation Recommendations
Re-frame using acid-free matting and UV-protective glass to prevent further yellowing and pigment degradation.