Kitty Fleecing the Old Jew. Hand-colored mezzotint, after a painting by Philippe Mercier (1689-1760). Printed for Carington Bowles, London, [ca. 1766].
The print depicts a well-dressed young woman pointing towards a pair of earrings held by a jeweler. She is looking at a man wearing a robe and a cloth cap, who is reluctantly reaching into his wallet. A maid stands behind with a coffee-tray. Printed at the bottom: "Kitty Fleecing the Old Jew".
The young woman depicted in this print is Kitty Fisher (1741-1767), an English courtesan, who was one of the most well-known and colorful figures of her time. Famous for her beauty, intelligence and sharp wit, she was commemorated in dozens of poems and caricatures, which were published in the contemporary press. Important and prominent artists, including the English painter Joshua Reynolds, painted Kitty's portraits, and prints that were made after these paintings were sold by the thousands to her admirers.
Possibly, the Jeweler in this print is Sampson Gideon (1699-1761) – a Jewish banker active in London; the financial advisor of British Prime Minister Robert Walpole. Gideon was known for his wealth and was even described as the " Rothschild of his day".
This print was made for the printer and publisher Carington Bowles (1724-1793), after he dissolved his partnership with his father John Bowles and opened his own business in St. Paul's Churchyard in London, in 1764.
The British Museum holds an other print after Philippe Mercier's paintings, by Dutch artist John Faber Jr. which was printed in 1744 and bears a different caption (Museum number 1874, 1010.7).
Print: 33X25.5 cm (46X29.5 cm sheet). Good condition. Stains. Creases. Closed and open tears to edges, some reinforced with tape.