A crowd of spectators wait as Tom Idle is driven in a cart with his coffin to his place of execution and the gallows. Engraving by Thomas Cook after William Hogarth, 1795.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Date:
1 July 1795
Reference:
38377i
Part of:
Industry and idleness
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About this work

Description

The scene is Tyburn, a traditional site of executions. Comforting Idle, who probably reads fron the Bible, is a Methodist preacher. The cart is followed by horsemen with halberds. The crowd is serviced by an assortment of itinerant sales people. Also among the crowd is a man with crutches. Another man is about to toss a dog by the tail

Publication/Creation

[London] (no 11 Little Britain) : T. Cook ; [London] (No 25 Paternoster Row) : G.G.& I. Robinson, 1 July 1795.

Physical description

1 print : engraving, with etching ; image 21.7 x 37 cm.

Lettering

The idle 'prentice executed at Tyburn. plate 11. design'd by W. Hogarth. engraved by T. Cook. Proverbs chap: I. ver: 27,28. When fear cometh as desolation, and their destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress cometh upon them then they shall call upon God, but he will not answer. A womanoffers for sale a broadside inscribed "The last dying speech & confession of Tho. Idle"

References note

R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, London 1989, 3rd edition, related to 178
British Museum Catalogue of political and personal satires, London 1877, vol. 3, no. 2989

Reference

Wellcome Collection 38377i

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