The Invasion, plate 2: England

Hogarth, William (1697-1764)

Item type:

print

Date of creation:

1756

Height:

31.9 cm  (12 9/16 in.)

Width:

38.8 cm  (15 1/4 in.)

Third state of three.

Technique / Medium:

etching

Place of creation:

London (England)

Description

On the right, a plainly-dressed young man is standing on tiptoe, having his height measured against a halberd. On the left, a male appears to be creating a painted figure on a wall. A label comes from the figure, that reads “You take a my fine ships; you be da pirate; you be the teef; me-send my grand armies, and hang you all”. The figure is shown holding a sword in his left hand, and a gibbet in his right. A piece of paper hangs over the table, with the first three lines of “Rule Britannia” written on it. In the left foreground, a reclining figure leans on a drum, and appears to be playing a fife. He is looking at a sheet of what can be assumed to be music notation.

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Fife [3945]
Cylindrical drum [2532]

Musical works

Rule Britanniaillegible music notation
It is only assumed that this is the notation, given the words on the paper overhanging the table.

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

Notes

Because the text on the paper hanging from the table is from the chorus of “Rule Britannia”, it has been assumed that the figure playing the fife is also playing the same piece.

RIdIM record id

5049