Other Prints · 19th century
€ 160
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Maker: Sams, W. (1793-1842).
Title: "Distribution of Wine on the Morning of St. Louis."
Handcolored etching and aquatint from W. SAMS, A Tour through Paris (1822-1824), with engraved caption and publisher/ artist's address "London, W. Sams (...) 1822" below image. - With the accompanying letterpress text leaf (recto only). Reference: Abbey, Travel 114.
The accompanying textleaf critically explains the scene and puts it in a historical perspective. The French apparently had the tradition of distributing wine on the day of St Louis (instead of the justice that St Louis originally distributed). The author rejects this practice: "The French prefects seem to think, that because the Roman Ediles distributed bread, it is their duty to continue this traditional beneficence of their predecessors. But the device of the Roman plebeians was "bread and shows," not "wine and shows.""
Condition: Both sheets w. (vague) pinkish stain in blank corner(s). Upper middle part shows wrinkles due to moisture damage or earlier water damage. OVeral still an interesting and decorative scene of a rare print.
