Night, William Hogarth, 1738

Scene near charing cross with le sueur's equestrian statue of charles i in the background and celebrations of the anniversary of the restoration of charles ii (29 may, known as "oak apple day"); in the foreground a drunken freemason (probably the corrupt magistrate sir thomas de veil) is supported by a serving man; to left a barber is seen at work through a window, a chamber pot is being emptied from a window above and below a man and woman sleep beneath a wooden shelter and a link boy crouches beside them; to right the salisbury flying coach has crashed while trying to avoid a bonfire in the middle of the street; shop and tavern signs include the barber's (advertising "shaving bleeding & teeth drawn wth. A touch ecce signum"), the rummer tavern, the earl of cardigan, the bagnio and the new bagnio. 1738 etching and engraving. Date: 1738. Dimensions: Height: 463 mm (cropped); Width: 370 mm (cropped). Medium: paper. Depicted People: Charles I, King of England. Collection: British Museum. Night (BM Cc,2.129)