A trip to Cocks Heath / I.M. inv. ; W.H. fe.

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William Humphrey
approximately 1740-approximately 1810
A trip to Cocks Heath / I.M. inv. ; W.H. fe.
[London] : Pub Oct 28 1778 by W Humphrey, [1778]
Peel 2298
Published: 
[London] : Pub. Oct. 28 1778 by W. Humphrey, [1778]
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

Signed in plate by artist I.M. (i.e. J. Mortimer?) and by engraver "W.H.", probably William Humphrey.
Attributed to Gillray by Grego.

Summary: 

A crowd of visitors on the right are shown approaching the military camps at Coxheath indicated on the left with tents and cannon. The crowd, preceded by a barking dog, is chiefly comprised of women, led by a prostitute in pseudo-military garb who is carried on the shoulders of a soldier. Behind her a young woman leads a fat military officer wearing a large wig and carrying his sword in his hand. Following are two elderly women, one with a large muff, the other holding crutches and seated in a wheelbarrow pushed by an old man. Other women and soldiers make up the crowd. In the left foreground are three cannons, inscribed "9 P.", "9 Pounder", and "G.R. 12"; they are given a decidedly suggestive and phallic appearance by the artist, and the latter of the three is shown being fondled and pointedly admired by a group of three women. In the background at left, a cannon is being fired, and men are being drilled beside a group of tents. Behind the walkers, at right, three women are driving rapidly in a two-wheeled chair drawn by two horses towards the camp.

Department: