Lot Essay
William Hogarth's famous satiric print was first published in 1733. It has been suggested that the figures are identifiable citizens of the time including: a prize-fighter James Figg (supine in the foreground), a cleric Cornelius Ford (with ladle at the right), a tobacconist John Harrison (depicted toasting), a barrister Kettleby and a bookbinder Chandler. Adding irony to the title, note the time on the tallcase clock reads four o'clock. The original oil on canvas of this scene is today in the Paul Mellon Collection, Yale Center, New Haven.