Giving Notice of Arrival of a Bit of Wine... Naples
Date:
1819
Materials & Techniques:
Pen and brown ink and graphite on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 10 × 14 7/8 inches (25.4 × 37.8 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Inscribed in pen and brown ink, lower left: "Naples, March 1819. - Giving notice of arrival of a [...] of wine. | Drum & fife & an old man in his shirt- bound round his waist & pair | of ragged breeches- with a battered old corked hat & red cockade- & stick | on shoulder capering between the two men with bottles of the wine | for sample; and very small grapes, [...] is as to what they can contain | Though they look large from their great thickness;- and they give glasses of | the wine gratis-to all who ask. Two old women awaiting [...] | of the offer- & a boy eager to have some- this scene is crowded | sheet with great numbers coming to taste.-Sometimes the | Drum & fife are [...]as the door of a little [...] [...] is prepared | for [...] of small sample gratis;- theh door is adorned on the | occasion with green boughs; which are always [...] in abundance | on the carts which convey the wine from the country."
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection