It's All in the Detail - A Rake's Progress (Scene 3)

The Orgy

I've often used this one whenever a Twitter tag calls for aesthetics boards.

The previous picture looked at Tom Rakewell by day. This time, we look at him by night. It's three o'clock in the morning (from Tom's watch), and Tom has been on a wild night out with a friend, culminating in a debauched party at a brothel (The engraving on the silver dish indicates they're at the Rose Tavern on Drury Lane). Our protagonist is quite drunk at this point, and is unaware that one of the prostitutes has lifted his watch and is passing it to her friend.

At Tom's feet is a staff and lantern, probably stolen from a night watchman for a drunken dare. He's also been using his sword, which is unsheathed but on his belt, possibly to show off; on the walls around the room are pictures of Roman Emperors, all of which have been defaced with the exception of Nero. As Nero was infamous for the persecution of Christians, his undamaged presence could be symbolising the absence of Christian values in the scene.

Also lying by Tom's feet is a small tin, which most likely contains mercury pills; a popular cure for syphilis. Many of the prostitutes in the scene have black spots, which are meant to be "beauty spots" intended to hide syphilitic sores. So, if those pills aren't Tom's, there's a good chance he'll be needing them soon enough.

Also, one of the women by the door is holding a piece of paper labelled "Black Joke". I have no idea what that entails.

All in all, sounds like a good night.