The foundling Moses is brought to Pharoah's daughter. Engraving by W. Hogarth and L. Sullivan, 1752, after the former, c. 1746.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Date:
Feb.ry. 5. 1752
Reference:
20524i
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Description

"Pharoah's daughter personifies the mission of the Foundling Hospital in a figure of Charity, with her extension in the steward who is paying the wet nurse. Schematically, there are two aspects to charity, the one involving love (adoption), the other hard cash and donations. But Hogarth has complicated the situation: the wet nurse being paid is in fact Moses' real mother, and the poignancy of the scene depends on the child's clinging to his real mother while warily eyeing his adoptive and ostensible mother. Behind the throne a Nubian slave whispers the secret of Moses' origin to an attendant. In the distance are a sphinx and some pseudo-Egyptian buildings; and from under the princess's chair creeps a crocodile..." (Paulson, loc. cit.) The biblical scene (Exodus 2.5) is used to refer to charity and adoption in Hogarth's day

Publication/Creation

[London] : [W. Hogarth], Feb.ry. 5. 1752.

Physical description

1 print : line engraving ; platemark 42.7 x 52.8 cm

Lettering

And the child grew & she brought him unto Pharoahs daughter & he became her son. And she called his name Moses. From the original painting in the Foundling Hospital. Engrav'd by Willm. Hogarth & Luke Sullivan. Published as the act directs Feb.ry. 5. 1752

Edition

[Third state, without added lettering: 'W Hogarth pinxt.'].

References note

Ronald Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, p. 156

Reference

Wellcome Collection 20524i

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