A scene outside a posting inn: A man, his hat flying off, rides right to left clutching his horse round the neck as he has lost his stirrups. The horse is rearing, startled by the drum and fifes of a recruiting party in Guards' uniforms led by an officer with a drawn sword and followed by three recruits wearing ribbon favours in their hats. The rider is fashionably dressed in riding clothes, a pair of curling tongs falls from his pocket; a box which he was carrying has fallen to the ground and various articles of the barber's trade have fallen out: tresses of hair, a packet of "Powder", a comb, razor, &c. In the background is a three-storied inn, with bay-windows on all floors. Spectators watch from the windows. The sign hangs from a standard (right); behind (left) are outhouses inscribed "Licensed to [hire] post horses"; a coach stands in front of them
Description:
Title from print based on this drawing. See British Museum catalogue., Number inscribed on drawing in lower left corner: 474., and Original drawing for a mezzotint published by Carington Bowles, 20 May 1782. See Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 5, no. 6158.
Subject (Topic):
Barbers, Recruiting & enlistment, and Taverns (Inns)
