[A satire on 'Vice and Folly'] [graphic]Toms, W. H. (William Henry), approximately 1700-1765, printmaker[not after 1760]eng"A satire on prostitution set in a brothel in which all the men have been given the heads of apes and the women those of cats. In the centre of the room a prostitute sits on the knee of an old man who fondles her, her legs splayed; she holds a glass in one hand and a flask in the other. A magistrate wearing a lace edged hat and holding a large candle stands over them. Constables with staves stand in the open door, behind which the prostitute's pimp (referred to as her bully in the verse beneath) is hiding; he is dressed as a grenadier. On the right, the brothel-keeper holds up a tally-board pointing out one of the symbols to three men who are startled at the entry of the constables; one is seated at a table holding a glass, another holds a large candle. On the table is a large flask, another rests on the floor beside a big jug, and another lies broken in pieces. In the background on the right a couple peer from being the curtains of a large bed. Hanging from the ceiling is a large birdcage on which a bird is perched."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier stateTitle supplied from description of an earlier state in the British Museum catalogue.Reissue by Sayer of a print published anonymously around 1730. See no. 1860 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 2.Terminal date of publication based on publisher's street address; according to the British Museum online catalogue, Sayer moved from his "opposite Fetter Lane, Fleet Street" premises in 1760. A later date is also possible, as the series that included this print was advertised in Robert Sayer's catalogue for 1766; see no. 1858 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 2.Sheet trimmed within plate mark.Eight lines of verse in two columns below image: Alas! poor whore, thourt fairly trap'd, Tho' by thy spark so sweetly lap'd; And for thy midnight vice and folly, Your fate is now to mill your dolly ...