Loading

The sergeants, who held these posts for many years, were paid by the recruit, receiving a little over £1 for each person who ended up serving in the army. Out of that, the recruiters had to pay expenses, including giving each enlistee a shilling (1/20th of a pound) and paying “bringers” who supplied them with likely prospects. In 1875, 3,605 approved recruits were enlisted from London.

Download this artwork (provided by The Cleveland Museum of Art).
Learn more about this artwork.

Details

  • Title: Recruiting Sergeants at Westminster
  • Creator: John Thomson (Scottish, 1837-1921)
  • Date Created: 1877
  • Physical Dimensions: Image: 11 x 8.7 cm (4 5/16 x 3 7/16 in.); Paper: 11 x 8.7 cm (4 5/16 x 3 7/16 in.); Mounted: 27 x 20.7 cm (10 5/8 x 8 1/8 in.)
  • Provenance: (Antiquariat Dr. Jens Mattow, Berlin, Germany), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Type: Photograph
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/2019.50
  • Medium: woodburytype
  • Series: Street Life in London
  • Inscriptions: Stamped in red ink on recto of mount: “RECRUITING SERGEANTS AT WESTMINSTER.”
  • Fun Fact: The hub of army recruitment in London in the late 19th century was this street corner, the site of the Mitre and Dove, a pub with a name that ironically invoked the church and peace.
  • Department: Photography
  • Culture: England, 19th century
  • Credit Line: Photography Discretionary Fund
  • Collection: PH - British 19th Century
  • Accession Number: 2019.50

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Flash this QR Code to get the app
Google apps