King's Bench Prison

This night-time scene is set in the courtyard of the King's Bench Prison, off Borough High Street. A concert among the prisoners is taking place to celebrate the election to the House of Commons of Thomas Turton, a supporter of Pitt the Younger, and Clerk of the Juries in the Court of Common Pleas. He defeated George Tierney, the standing Member of Parliament for Southwark, and a banner on the left marks his achievement.

This debtors' prison allowed wealthy inmates to live in very comfortable lodgings. Here, well-dressed men and women are shown enjoying the outdoor concert, involving two violinists, a flautist and a singer who have all gathered around an oil lamp on a table. Other entertainment includes smoking, drinking and playing a ball and racket game.

An aquatint engraver of sporting and military subjects, Matthew Dubourg also specialised in topographical views after his contemporaries. He was active during the early 19th century and often worked in London.