It's All in the Detail - A Rake's Progress (Scene 4)

The Arrest

It's only a matter of time before a lavish lifestyle incurs lavish debts.

In this scene, Tom Rakewell is travelling by sedan chair to an event at St James' Palace (visible in the background, with a lot of sedan chairs). However, he is accosted in the street by bailiffs, one of whom is carrying an arrest warrant. Fortunately, he is saved from prison by the timely intervention of Sarah Young (his ex-girlfriend from the first scene). The box she carries indicates that she's now working as a milliner, and she's shown to be offering to pay Tom's bail with her meagre savings. There's a contrast here, as Sarah has earned her money, rather than inheriting it.

Wikipedia claims that the event Tom is attending is a royal birthday celebration, specifically that of Queen Caroline. Running the dates on this, George II was king when this was painted, and Queen Caroline was his consort. Her birthday falls on March 1st, coinciding with St David's Day. One of Tom's porters and the smartly-dressed onlooker are wearing leeks in their hats to observe this, the leek being a Welsh symbol.

In a rather comedic detail, the man refilling the oil lamps is watching the scene unfold, unaware that he's spilling oil on Tom's head. It was common practice for priests to anoint a person's head with oil when administering a blessing, and this is being referenced here; Tom is being saved by Sarah. However, he'll probably feel humiliated.

If narrowly escaping arrest and getting dripped on isn't enough, a street urchin is stealing his walking stick. This could establish that Tom's in over his head, and everything is beginning to fall apart.

Perhaps there is a way he could repay Sarah.