A Satirical Mirror of Eighteenth Century London John Collet, an artist whose name remains etched in the vibrant, often chaotic tapestry of eighteenth-century British art, served as a vivid chronicler of the London streets during the reign of George II. Born around 1725 into a family of modest distinction—the son of a gentleman holding public office—Collet’s early life was steeped in the burgeoning artistic atmosphere of his native city. His formal education began under the watchful eye of the esteemed painter George Lambert at the St Martin’s Lane Art School, a prestigious crucible of creati…