The Country-Man in London, 1771

Satire on gullible youths and dishonest prostitutes. A bedroom in which a young countryman is seated at a table between two young women. His right leg is slung across the legs of the woman on the left; she wears a quilted petticoat and her neckline plunges to reveal a breast; she puts an arm around his shoulder and with the other picks his purse from pocket. His left arm is around the waist of the other woman, who gazes seductively at him and offers a punchbowl; playing cards lie on the table and the queen of hearts has fallen to the floor. On the back of the first woman's chair sits a parrot chewing a twist of lemon peel; the pimp and an old bawd stand behind the bed curtain watching the scene; a picture on the wall shows a sheep being fleeced; in front of the table, a dog chews the young man's copy of "the journey to london". 1 september 1771 etching and engraving. Date: 1771. Dimensions: Height: 255 mm; Width: 365 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum.