A dinner of mostly elderly men has dissolved into a brawl with wigs flying in every direction as they pummel each other with their fists or any tool at hand. In the center a man crawls on his hands and knees, blood pouring from both nostrils, his opponent ready to land him another blow. The one young man of the party dances merrily on top of the table flourishing a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other as the dinnerware scatters in every direction.
Description:
A publication date of 1810 is given by Grego, who is perhaps describing an earlier state., Possibly a reissue; the year in Rowlandson's signature appears to have been altered from "1810" to "1811." See British Museum catalogue., Text below title: The assemblies of women are too frequently marked by malice to each other, and slander to the absent, the meetings of men by noise, inebriety and wrangling., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership. and Harvey, Francis--Ownership.
"A press-gang at work in a London street, at the end of which appears the dome of St. Paul's. A sailor (c.) strides towards the spectator, a club in his right. hand, dragging along a lean tailor, who holds up his hands in dismay. An infuriated woman (l.) has seized the sailor by his hair and the right. ear while she pummels him with her knee. Another sailor behind has seized her wrist and raises a club to strike her. A third sailor (r.) holds the tailor by the left. arm. A naval officer (r.) walks beside the party with a drawn cutlass. Behind are other sailors. A woman (l.) wearing stays or jumps' raises a mop in both hands to smite a sailor; an infant clutches her petticoats. A group of spectators (l.) includes a woman carrying a baby. A dog barks at the fray."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Attributed to Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., CtY-LW, Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
W. Humphrey, No. 227 Strand
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher.