Tom Idle and Francis Goodchild, once colleagues meet at a session of the court of justice; Idle is a pleading defendant while Goodchild wearing the furred robe and chain of an alderman is the acting magistrate. Engraving by Thomas Cook after William Hogarth.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Reference:
38376i
Part of:
Industry and idleness
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Description

Goodchild covers his eyes. This is an allusion to Blind Justice who cannot recognise favours or friends. Consequently he cannot see that the second defendant uses the wrong hand to swear the oath, or that a woman is bribing an attendant, Idle's two pistols are held aloft as evidence. Along a rafter hang a row of fire-buckets

Publication/Creation

[London] (Islington) : T. Cook ; [London] (Paternoster Row) : G.G. & J. Robinsons

Physical description

1 print : engraving, with etching ; image 20.5 x 28 cm.

Lettering

The industrious 'prentice Alderman of London, the idle one brought befor him & impeach'd by his accomplice. plate 10. design'd by Wm. Hogarth. engrav'd by T. Cook. Psalm IX. ver: 16. The wicked is snar'd in the work of his own hands. Leviticus ch: XIX. ver: 15. Thou shall do no unrighteous- ness in judgement A clerk writes "To the turnkey of Newgate"

References note

R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, London 1989, 3rd edition, related to 177
British Museum Catalogue of political and personal satires, London 1877, vol. 3, no. 2980

Reference

Wellcome Collection 38376i

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