A Satire on Recruiting for the City of London Volunteers, Egbert van Heemskerck II, circa 1730

Satire on the recruitment of city of london volunteers at a time of peace set in a street of old houses where a city militia troop, with the heads of apes, drums up support from local tradesmen. The street appears to be intended for rag fair, beyond the tower of london; one of the houses carries the inn-sign of a "hog in armour". The troop is led by an elephant-headed man holding a pike, accompanied by another with the head of a hog who carries a flag emblazoned with a joint of beef and a pudding (referring to a paper held by one of the soldiers offering "beef, pudding and beer"). In the background to right, a group of local men look on with enthusiasm. On the gable of one of the houses is a bird nesting bottle. C. 1730 etching and engraving. Date: circa 1730. Dimensions: Height: 375 mm; Width: 311 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. A Satire on Recruiting for the City of London Volunteers (BM 1866,0407.57)