A clergyman conducting a chaotic christening. Colour mezzotint by J. Sympson, 173-, after W. Hogarth.

The lettering on this print identifies the preacher with the eccentric John Henley, born in Melton Mowbray in 1692, where, as a school teacher, he introduced liberal educational methods. In London he held charity sermons to the poor at Oratory Chapel, which he founded at Clare Market, London (on the site around the present London School of Economics buildings in Houghton Street). He founded a news-sheet called the Hyp Doctor. However, the preacher in the painting by Hogarth on which this print is based is also identified with Cornelius Ford, cousin of Dr Samuel Johnson: this identification is based on information given by Hester Thrale to J. Ireland (Paulson, loc. cit.)

Behold Vilaria lately brought to bed, Her cheeks now strangers to their rosy red, Languid her eyes, yet lovely she appears; And oh! what fondness her Lord's visage wears! ...

London (at the Dove in Russell Court Drury Lane) : J. Sympson, [between 1730 and 1739?]

1 print : mezzotint, printed in blue ; image 29 x 39.8 cm

S. Ireland, Graphic illustrations by Hogarth, 1794, p. 135

J. Chaloner Smith, British mezzotinto portraits, vol. 3, London 1883?, pp. 1352-1353, Joseph Sympson no. 2

R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, 3rd ed., London 1989, p. 85

Wellcome Library no. 16957i