The march to Finchley: English guards, gathering before marching to Finchley to defend London from the troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie, shown in a state of confusion and indiscipline. Etching by L. Sullivan after W. Hogarth.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Date:
12th June 1761
Reference:
39188i
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view The march to Finchley: English guards, gathering before marching to Finchley to defend London from the troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie, shown in a state of confusion and indiscipline. Etching by L. Sullivan after W. Hogarth.

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Credit

The march to Finchley: English guards, gathering before marching to Finchley to defend London from the troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie, shown in a state of confusion and indiscipline. Etching by L. Sullivan after W. Hogarth. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Description

Located at the junction of the Euston Road (then the New Road) and Hampstead Road in North London, where soldiers are gathering before marching to Finchley, in order to guard the approach to London from Scotland and the North of England. The disorganized soldiers are contrasted with the orderly formations in the background. They are beset with all sorts of human problems: pregnancy, prostitutes, venereal diseases, fighting, pillaging, faction and intrigue

Publication/Creation

[London] : William Hogarth, 12th June 1761.

Physical description

1 print : etching, with engraving ; image 41.3 x 54.2 cm

Contributors

Lettering

A representation of the march of the guards towards Scotland, in the year 1745. To his maiesty, the King of Prussia, an encourager of arts and sciences! This plate is most humbly dedicated. Lettering continues: Painted by Willm. Hogarth & publish'd Dec.br. 31. 1750 according to Act of Parliament. Engraved by Luke Sullivan retouched and improved by Wm. Hogarth, republish'd June 12th 1761

References note

R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, 3 ed., London 1989, pp. 141-145 [184]

Reference

Wellcome Collection 39188i

Creator/production credits

The various alternative explanations for the dedication to Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, are recounted by Paulson, loc. cit. One of them, transmitted by John Ireland, was that Hogarth intended to dedicate it to King George II, and the painting was taken to St James's Palace for that purpose, but George II retorted "Does the painter mean to laugh at my guards? ... Take this trumpery out of my sight.". At the time of the first publication of the print (1750), the Commons was debating "an attempt to bring the British army up to a German standard of order and precision", as proposed in a bill put forward by the Duke of Cumberland

Reproduction note

After a painting given by means of a rigged lottery to the Foundling Hospital, London, where it still (1997) hangs

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