Doctor Rock, a vendor of medicines, selling his wares from a horse-drawn carriage to a crowd at Kennington common: John and Charles Wesley are preaching in the background. Engraving, 1743.

Date:
Aug.st 17th 1743
Reference:
20649i
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Description

A pregnant woman is selling "gin" and "... public spirit", a man is carrying a pile of books "Dr. Rocks 52 ways ...". Doctor Rock (Richard Rock 1690-1777) was a medicine vendor who frequented the London areas of Tower Hill, St. Paul's Cathedral and Covent Garden. He offered for sale his "anti-venereal, grand, specifick pill". He was represented in several caricatures: William Hogarth referred to him in A harlot's progress pl. V, The march to Finchley, and in the present scene

Publication/Creation

London (at the White Horse on Ludgate Hill) : Published according to Act of Parliament by G. Foster, Aug.st 17th 1743.

Physical description

1 print : line engraving and etching ; platemark 18 x 30.6 cm

Edition

[2nd state, with the two preachers in the background].

Notes

For first state of same print see Wellcome Library no. 20635i

References note

See further: C.J.S. Thompson, The quacks of old London, New York 1993, p. 312

Reference

Wellcome Collection 20649i

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