Supplementary-Militia, turning-out for Twenty Days Amusement., James Gillray, 1796

A grotesque body of tradesmen, &c, march in close formation, with fixed bayonets. They wear military coats and crossed bandoliers with very unsoldierly foot-gear and appurtenances. Their leader (right) marches in profile to the right, a very short and fat butcher in over-sleeves wearing a feathered cocked hat above his butcher's cap, a military sash (from which hangs his steel) over an apron. He carries a banner on which st. George is killing the dragon. The front rank consists of (left to right): a cobbler wearing an apron, with the twisted shins known as cheese-cutters, and tattered stockings; a bricklayer, with thick gouty legs, a trowel thrust through his apron-string; an artist, his palette inscribed 'r. A', very thin and with a grotesquely thin neck; his toes project through a tattered boot of fashionable shape; a tailor with shears and tape-measure, a hairdresser with scissors and combs wearing a fashionable stock. On the left of this front rank a dwarfish drummer, an old campaigner with two wooden legs and one eye, beats his drum. Behind, the men recede in perspective, densely packed together. 25 november 1796 hand-coloured etching. Date: 1796. Dimensions: Height: 253 mm; Width: 360 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: John Hoppner. Collection: British Museum. Supplementary-Militia, turning-out for Twenty Days Amusement. (BM 1868,0808.6569)