The 'Seven Wise Men' mentioned in the title of the print are sitting beneath the rainbow on a long, curved wooden bench, as though at a life drawing class.

Sitting closest to us, and picked out by Gillray as the most gullible of the Academicians who were taken in by Miss Provis's impostures, is the Academician Joseph Farington. The speech bubble above his head has him wondering 'Will this secret make me paint like Claude? - will it make a Dunce, a Colourist at once?'.

The piece of paper sticking out from the pocket of his frock coat is inscribed 'Methods of eating one's way into the Academy', a sly reference to the fact that Farington's power and influence in the Academy was due more to his efforts to wine and dine the right people, than his talents as a painter.