Doctor on His Way to Visit His Patients

An 18th century doctor is seated inside a small cart moved by two men. An assistant carrying a clyster leads the way dressed in clothes in the antique fashion. A plump and prosperous apothecary with a smirk on his face brings up the rear. A phial labeled Anodyne (similar to the French word anodin/e: insignificant, trivial) sticks out of his pocket. After a painting by Michel-Vincent Brandoin

Michel-Vincent (sometimes called Charles) Brandoin was a Swiss artist born in Vevey in 1733 and who died in Morges in 1807. He was a neoclassic painter of landscapes and architecture and the occasional caricature. He worked in England between 1768 and 1772 and this may be the reason why the style of this satirical work seems to owe something to William Hogarth.

An engraving from the painting was made by Caldwell and published in London in 1771. It appears to be this engraving that was used as a reference by the workshop of Andrew, Best & Leloir.

The caption reads in the original French: Caricature du dix-huitième siècle. — Un médécin allant visiter ses malades.