Who is Two Sisters Selling Violets from London Labour and the London Poor and what is their importance?

Girls often sold violets or other flowers, usually to men who presented the blooms to their wives or girlfriends. While this was sometimes a front for prostitution, in other cases honorable girls tried to earn a living by selling whatever flowers were in season. Mayhew interviewed two Roman Catholic sisters who sold flowers together. They were orphans, 15 and 11 years old. They worked from 6 am until dark each day, selling any blossoms they could buy cheaply at the wholesale markets like Covent Garden. The girls sold carnations, violets, primroses, roses and stocks in season. The two had supported themselves in this way since their mother died 7 years ago. They rented a part of a furnished room from a married couple at the somewhat inflated price of 2 shillings per week. The couple justified this price by pointing out that the wife washed the girl's clothes. Unlike many costermongers, the two girls were religious and went to church every Sunday.