Summer's Labours [School piece or Penmanship sheet]
This print is decorated at the top and sides with agricultural scenes. Men and women celebrate May Day, mow grass, make hay, shear sheep and reap corn, with the scenes divided by calligraphic engraved flourishes.
The work comes from a genre known as writing sheets, writing blanks, penmanship exercises, letter sheets or school pieces, published in Britain ca. 1660 to 1860 and used by students to demonstrate their handwriting abilities, with this example never used.
The work comes from a genre known as writing sheets, writing blanks, penmanship exercises, letter sheets or school pieces, published in Britain ca. 1660 to 1860 and used by students to demonstrate their handwriting abilities, with this example never used.
Artwork Details
- Title: Summer's Labours [School piece or Penmanship sheet]
- Artist: After Joseph Champion (British, Chatham 1709–1765)
- Publisher: Robert Sayer (British, Sunderland 1725–1794 Bath)
- Date: ca. 1760
- Medium: Etching and engraving
- Dimensions: Plate: 16 1/4 × 12 3/16 in. (41.3 × 31 cm)
Sheet: 20 3/16 × 15 1/2 in. (51.2 × 39.3 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1933
- Object Number: 33.104.2701
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Multiple artists/makers
[ca. 1770] (?)
Multiple artists/makers
1750
Multiple artists/makers
dedication 1759
Joseph Champion
ca. 1740–65
Joseph Champion
John Brown
1742–61
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