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

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Date:
[between 1730 and 1739?]
Reference:
16957i
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view A clergyman conducting a chaotic christening. Colour mezzotint by J. Sympson, 173-, after W. Hogarth.

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A clergyman conducting a chaotic christening. Colour mezzotint by J. Sympson, 173-, after W. Hogarth. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Description

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.)

Publication/Creation

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

Physical description

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

Contributors

Lettering

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! ... Lettering continues: "The pamper'd priest in whose extended arms The female infant lies, with budding charms, Seeming to ask the name e'er he baptise, Casts at the handsom gossips his wanton eyes, While gay Sr. Fopling, an accomplished ass, Is courting's own dear image in the glass: The midwife busied too, with mighty care, Adjusts the cap shews innocency fair, Behind her stands the clerk, on whose grave face Sleek Abigal cannot forbear to gaze, But master, without thought, poor harmless child, Has on the floor the holy-water spill'd, Thrown down the hat; the lap-dog gnaws ye rose; And at the fire the nurse is warming cloaths, One guess enquires the parson's name; - says Friendly, "Why don't you know sir! - Hyp-Doctor H - y.""

References note

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

Reference

Wellcome Collection 16957i

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