William Hogarth's painting A Modern Midnight Conversation Circa 1733 framed and mounted. So often represented as The Hellfire Club, the product of Hogarth's mind was perhaps the precursor of the cartoon and in an age of illiteracy, it gave a visual punch to the aristocracy and politicians of the time. Supposedly it shows a Methodist minister who preached temperance drunk and the sprawling man is a bare knuckle boxer who had never been knocked over during his career as a fighter, all drinking in St. John's Coffee-house, Temple Bar, London. A punchbowl decorated with Chinese figures appears at the center of the table, and empty bottles piled on the floor and mantelpiece testify to many rounds of punch consumed, as does the overflowing chamber pot at lower right. Britain at this period followed the Julian calendar, according to which New Year's fell on March 25th. So, while Hogarth's print was published on March 1, 1732 under that system, today it is considered to have been issued in 1733 (the Gregorian calendar, which treats calculates the turn of the year on January 1st was adopted in 1752).

Dimensions: H: 46cm (18in) | W: 41cm (16in) | D: 3cm (1in)

Period: Georgian