Here we see a scene from one of the many auctions of goods arranged in cities like Copenhagen at this time. The main action concerns ladies who are competing for a red uniform jacket for their husbands in the Civic Guard. In addition, the painting contains umpteen caricatures of people’s avarice, vanity, anger and sloth. A barefooted boy scornfully observes the follies of the adults from the top of ladder, accompanied by Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.