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Ralph Hedley R.B.A
The Ballad Seller
1884
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

(Alternative title)
The Black Gate, Newcastle

oil on canvas
947 x 674mm
SIGNED b.r.c. R. Hedley 84

EXHIBITED

Laing Art Gallery
Ralph Hedley, Tyneside Painter
Exhibition, 1990-91

PUBLIC COLLECTION 

Laing Art Gallery,
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Reference TWCMS : B6665
Given by C. D. Currie, 1953

Ralph Hedley Archive reference
1884_w007

The ballad seller

The Black Gate was originally the entrance to Newcastle’s castle, and is one of the city’s most important historic buildings.

In 1880 it was in poor repair and a small shanty town had been built against its walls. Newcastle Society of Antiquaries cleared the site and repaired the building.

The ballad seller has set up her shop against the hoarding round the Antiquaries’ building work. With her baby in her arms, she is resigned and patient as she serves a grumpy man in old-fashioned clothes.