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.

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

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

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

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

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

Wellcome Collection 39188i

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