OF THE STREET-SELLERS OF FINE ARTS.
These traders may be described as partaking
more of the characteristics of the street stationers
than of the "paper-workers," as they are not
patterers. The trade is less exclusively than
the "paper-trade" in the hands of men. Those
carrying on this branch of the street-traffic
may be divided into the sellers of pictures
in frames, and of engravings (of all kinds), in
umbrellas. Under this head may also be
ranked the street-artists (though this is a trade
associated with street-life rather than forming
an integrant part of it), I allude more parti-
cularly to the illustrated "boards" which are
prepared for the purposes of the street-pat-
terers, and are adapted for no other use. The
same artist that executes the greater portion of
the street-art, also prepares the paintings which
decorate the exterior of shows. There are also
the writers of manuscript music, and the makers
and sellers of "images" of all descriptions,
but this branch of the subject I shall treat
under the head of the street-Italians. Under
the same curious head I shall also speak of
the artists whose skill produces the street-sold
medallions, in wax or plaster, they being of the
same class as the "image" men. In both
"images" and "casts" and "moulded" pro-
ductions of all kinds the change and improve-
ment that have taken place, from the pristine
rudeness of "green parrots" is most remark-
able and creditable to the taste of working
people, who are the chief purchasers of the
smaller articles.
