The Guards of the Night Defeated, 1774

Satire on nightwatchmen defeated by prostitutes: a group of prostitutes repulse the entry of six nightwatchmen into the brothel or tavern where they are entertaining two men. In the centre, a young woman with an elaborate hair style dominates the scene, standing over a fallen watchman and brandishing the pole with his lantern; on the left, a sword is offered to a drowsy young man by a woman while her companion raises a three-legged stool above her head; on the right, four watchmen are crowded in the doorway, one holding his pole protectively across a plump man seated at the table spilling his tankard of beer and dropping his pipe; another watchman, who has already received a blow to his head, cowers behind the open door. 12 july 1774 etching. Date: 1774. Dimensions: Height: 255 mm; Width: 361 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum.