March of the Guards to Finchley by William Hogarth

Acquisition of William Hogarth's 'March of the Guards to Finchley' from the Coram family. Painted in 1749-50, this work records, with a satirical touch, the deployment of English Soldiers in 1745 to protect the approach to London against attack by Scottish forces loyal to the 'Young Pretender' Charles Edward Stuart. Hogarth originally disposed of the work by lottery for which he donated 156 tickets, including the wining one, to the Foundling Hospital established by his friend Thomas Coram. The purchase of this painting is one of the key conditions laid down by the Attorney General to enable the Foundling Museum scheme to proceed.