Johann Heinrich Ramberg - Rehearsal in Holland 1787 (BM 1851,0901.371)

One of a set of four, and a companion print to BMSat 7177. A party of unsoldierly Dutch ragamuffins practises firing at the figure of a Prussian soldier (right) chalked on a high stone wall. They stand on the brink of a ditch close to the wall and are commanded by a man in civilian dress holding a pike, evidently a member of a Free Corps, who is directing the military training of the others. One man stands up to his knees in water; frogs are climbing up him. Other frogs stand on the bank holding weapons. A crowd of ruffians (left) watch the firing, some have muskets, one a blunderbuss, one blows a trumpet, another waves his hat; all exult at the success of their arms against the symbol of the Prussian army, at which a dog barks and ducks quack. The high stone wall has a ruinous gap which is filled with a windmill. 18 October 1787
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