Beggars opera Act 2, Scene I. [graphic]

"The Duke of York sits on a settee with a courtesan on each knee, Mrs. Clarke (left) and (presumably) Mrs. Carey (right). One foot rests on large volumes of 'Army Accompts'; by the other is a smaller book: 'Ovid Art of Love'. A chair is overturned; the Duke's (broken) sword transfixes a paper: 'Promotions, My Foot Boy' [Carter, see British Museum Satires No. 11223], 'Foster 200 ... 150, Smalcroft200....' [see British Museum Satires No. 11227]. On a round table are decanters, fruit, a stand of jelly-glasses. Above the Duke hangs a picture of the Prodigal Son watching swine at a trough, inscribed: 'I will Arise and Go To my Fa[ther]'. Mrs. Clarke, unnoticed by the Duke, makes a sign to Wardle (right) who enters the room holding out a paper: 'The Duty which I Owe to my Country is Paramount to Every Other Concideration' [the tenor of the opening of his speech of 27 Jan. attacking the Duke). He is followed by a crowd of shadowy figures carrying a gibbet, an axe, and a statue of Justice."--British Museum online catalogue