The First Come Best Served

Antoine-François Sergent after Augustin de Saint-Aubin

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a woman seated on a bed, with disheveled sheets. Her body is turned to the side as she looks down towards her chest, resting her head against her hand. She wears a long, light-colored dress with loose sleeves. There are a few indistinct figures lying down around her, and a small cat sits by her feet. In the foreground, a man in a hat peeks into the scene from an open door, looking surprised. The background shows a shadowy room with drapery around the bed. The lighting emphasizes the soft, intimate atmosphere of the setting. Below the scene, the words "The first Come first served" are inscribed.