W. Rintoul.

The Pledge of Affection.

8 x 11 inches

A colour printed aquatint engraved by W. Rintoul after his own design and published in the King's Road, London in 1821.

Not for everyone, this overtly sentimental image depicts a young girl nurturing a spaniel puppy in her arms; it is either achingly sweet or cloyingly tender hearted! Her piercing blue eyes are defiant and directed straight at the viewer, thereby affirming her dedication to care for the new puppy. The clothing, landscape and adjacent pillar, leading to a portico, all indicate that this girl is from a wealthy home with a carefully orchestrated upbringing. In early C19th England girls were still raised to nurture and develop a motherly instinct, prior to finding a husband and starting a family of their own. Prints such as these would be hung upon the nursery wall to reinforce this message!

£185