Comments on: John Leighton’s Cries Of London https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/21/john-leightons-cries-of-london-i/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Wed, 26 Jul 2023 10:24:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Richard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/21/john-leightons-cries-of-london-i/#comment-1516367 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 10:24:05 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=196408#comment-1516367 Thanks for showing these pictures. A bit of artistic licence in the Smithfield one. St Paul’s has snuck in!

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/21/john-leightons-cries-of-london-i/#comment-1515937 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:08:42 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=196408#comment-1515937 I just enlarged the final image, and am totally captivated. Like one of Durer’s allegorical etchings awash in countless visual elements; this highly-detailed portrait of the Artist accompanied by his Subjects is a masterful work of art. I smiled to see the little figure, gesturing to the artist, seemingly encouraging him to “get it right” and include every salient detail. “Don’t forget now…….” And I loved the setting of the art session. The heavy draped cloth, the theatrical sword, the nail heads pounded into each wooden carton, the tied-with-ribbon portfolios (“Please may I have a look?”) the suit of armor emerging, the very top of a nearby building showing through the handsome leaded glass window. Most of all, I loved the little characters clamoring about in the midst of art supplies. Not only was this artist masterful at depicting London’s Cries and professions…………he created a most engaging portrait of his OWN chosen career. Here’s to the illustrators!

]]> By: Jennifer Newbold https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/21/john-leightons-cries-of-london-i/#comment-1515919 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:44:53 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=196408#comment-1515919 If the portraits of the street sellers were not compelling enough, the final image of John Leighton surrounded by all his little characters is delightful!

I particularly like the fact that they are portrayed in specific locations… I do not remember, off-hand, another Cries of London drawn that way.

There is such a wealth of history in these images!

]]> By: Saba https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/21/john-leightons-cries-of-london-i/#comment-1515903 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:11:27 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=196408#comment-1515903 Wonderful! The poorest, photographed against cornerstone buildings of the British empire and other symbols of wealth and privilege, look out at me as individuals making direct contact.

The artist includes great detail while maintaining a free hand, not a small achievement.

Please, GA, let us know more about the media and size of the works shown.

Thank you, as always, GA for making these opportunities available to us, the GRs.

]]> By: Caroline Murray https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/21/john-leightons-cries-of-london-i/#comment-1515888 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 12:38:52 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=196408#comment-1515888 Wonderful pictures! On rhubarb as a medicine, you may like this: https://cambridgelibrarycollection.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/rhubarb/

]]> By: Christine Swan https://spitalfieldslife.com/2023/07/21/john-leightons-cries-of-london-i/#comment-1515864 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:11:51 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=196408#comment-1515864 All of London is here. A wide range of services and products against a backdrop of well-known landmarks – many still standing but some sadly lost. I think the muffin man is standing in front of the Euston arch? I’ve mentioned this in my next blog post. It’s the end of term today so I’ll hopefully have the time to finish it after the last few manic weeks.

Thanks GA, I love looking at these images and remembering my paternal great grandfathers, both of whom were street traders – one a cats’ meat man and the other selling fish and firewood.

]]>