Night

William Hogarth (1697 - 1764)

RA Collection: Art

The final plate in a set of four Times of Day, derived from paintings made by Williiam Hogarth in 1736-7 (reversing the images in the process) and published by Hogarth in 1738. The corresponding painting is in the National Trust property Upton House (as is the painting of Morning).

Each of the four scenes depicts a different area of London. Night shows a Freemason with a headwound accompanied down Rummer Court, an alley between Whitehall and Charing Cross Road. The chaotic scene behind them includes a bonfire in the street and an overturned coach. Einberg suggests the scene most likely depicts Bonfire Night celebrations, which became increasingly raucous during the eighteenth century with brawls between revellers of different persuasions (hence the injury to the Freemason, and the piss-pot emptied into his hat from above).