The March to Finchley--A Representation of the March of the Guards towards Scotland in the Year 1745 1761

This is Luke Sullivan’s engraving, “The March to Finchley,” from 1750, depicting the British Guards’ farcical assembly at Finchley on their way to confront the Jacobite Rebellion. Sullivan’s satire uses the imagery of military mobilization to critique the social and political climate of mid-18th century England. Note the chaos and disarray among the soldiers, as opposed to order and discipline. The scene, full of caricatures, presents a society more interested in pleasure and self-indulgence than in defending the realm. The uniforms, though suggesting authority, are worn by figures engaged in activities that undermine their martial purpose. This work also satirizes the institutions of art. By dedicating the print to the King of Prussia, known for his patronage of the arts, Sullivan challenges the prevailing artistic norms and comments on the role of art in society. To fully understand this work, historians can explore period literature, political pamphlets, and military records. The meaning of art shifts as social and institutional contexts change.