Poor Jack

This hand-coloured mezzotint depicts a sailor bidding farewell to his sweetheart on the seashore. The woman cries into her handkerchief as the sailor holds her hand. With his other hand, he gestures towards the mast of his ship, where a cherub sits.

Published on 10 August 1790 by Robert Sayer, this print originally featured Charles Dibdin’s song ‘Poor Jack’ beneath the image. However, this impression has been cut down, removing the song and publication line. Dibdin’s ‘Poor Jack’ describes the titular sailor’s enduring optimism despite the challenges of seafaring. In one stanza, Jack consoles his sweetheart Poll, who is upset at his going to sea, by telling her that he will have divine protection: ‘For d’ye see there’s a cherub sits smiling aloft / to keep watch for the life of Poor Jack.’

‘Poor Jack’ was one of Dibdin’s most popular songs and its imagery was represented in many prints. PAF4028 is another impression of this print.