Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 53a

'The Imports of Great Britain from France'

Engraving
1757 (made)
Artist/Maker
John Bowles & Son (publisher)
Louis Philippe Boitard (maker)
Place of origin
London (published)

Scene showing docks in London featuring on the right a large number of ships' masts, wooden buildings, stone buildings to the left and in the background the Tower of London. In the middle foreground is a large throng of people disembarking and greeting each other, goods being measured on large scales. In the foreground on the right are crates and barrels of produce, including French wine, being checked by customs officers. Some men carrying off a crate to the left.


Object details

Category
Prints
Object type
Engraving
Title'The Imports of Great Britain from France'
Materials and techniques
Etching and engraving on paper
Paper
Etched
Engraved
Brief description
Print, etching and engraving, 'The Imports of Great Britain from France', by Louis Philipe Boitard, published in London, made in 1757.
Physical description
Scene showing docks in London featuring on the right a large number of ships' masts, wooden buildings, stone buildings to the left and in the background the Tower of London. In the middle foreground is a large throng of people disembarking and greeting each other, goods being measured on large scales. In the foreground on the right are crates and barrels of produce, including French wine, being checked by customs officers. Some men carrying off a crate to the left.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 25.3cm (irregular, trimmed)
  • Sheet width: 35.4cm (irregular, trimmed)
  • Platemark height: 25cm
  • Platemark width: 35cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'The IMPORTS of GREAT BRITAIN from FRANCE.' (Title, top centre)
  • 'Humbly Address'd to the laudable Associationa of Anti-Gallicans, and the generous promotors of the British Arts & Manufactories; / by their sincere Well-wisher, and truly devoted humble Servant, L.P. Boitard' (Above image, below title, in italics)
  • 'Plate 1st.' (Top right corner)
  • 'Invented & Engrav'd by L.P. Boitard. EXPLANATION. Four Tackle Porters staggering under a weighty Chest of Birth-Night Cloaths. Behind, several emaciated high liv'd Epicures, familiarly receiving a / French Cook, acquainting him that without his Assistance they must have perish'd with Hunger. A Lady of Distinction offering the Tuition of her Son & Daughter to a cringing French Abbe, disregarding / the Corruption of their Religion, so they do but obtain the true French Accent, her Frenchified well-bred Spouse, readily complying. The English Chaplain regretting his lost Labours; Another Woman of Quality / in Raptures caressing a French Female Dancer, assuring her that her Arrival is to the Honour & Delight of England, On the front ground, a Cask overset; the contents, French Cheeses from Normandy bein- / Raffiniès, a Black Guard Boy stopped his Nostrils greatly offended at the Haut-Goût; A Chest well cramm'd with Tippets, Muffs, Ribands, Flowers for the Hair; & other such Material Bagatelles, / underneath, conceal'd Cambricks & Gloves; Another Chest, containing choice Beauty washes, Pomatums, l'Eau d'Hongre, l'Eau de Luce, l'Eau de Carme, &c, &c, &c, near French Wines and Brandies. / At a distance Landing, Swarms of Milliners, Taylors, Mantua-makers, Frisers, Tutoresses for Boarding schools, disguis'd Jesuits, Quacks, Valet de Chambres, &c, &c, &c.' (Below image, mostly in italics with some highlights in non-italic)
  • 'Publish'd according to Act of Parliament, March 7th. 1757, by John Bowles and Son, at the Black Horse in Cornhill, London - Price, Six-pence.' (Bottom of sheet)
Subjects depicted
Dockyard
Scales
Crates
Barrels
Crowd Scenes
Costume
Ships
Customhouse
Cranes
Trolley
Chests
Places depicted
London
London
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.674-2011

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Record createdSeptember 6, 2011
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1240590/the-imports-of-great-britain-engraving-louis-philippe-boitard/
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