A prostitute gives evidence to a magistrate: she points towards Tom Idle dividing loot with his accomplice, as a corpse is being disposed of through a trapdoor. Engraving by Thomas Cook, 1795, after William Hogarth.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Date:
1 October 1795
Reference:
38375i
Part of:
Industry and idleness
  • Pictures
  • Online

Selected images from this work

View 1 image

About this work

Description

The cellar has been identified as "The Blood Bowl House". The prostitute is the same as the one in Industry and idleness no. 7, and the man wearing a eye-patch also appears in Industry and idleness no. 3. From Tom Idle's pockets projects a pistol. He is about to be caught "red-handed". In the background a fight is taking place. A serving wench wears a leather patch where her nose should be, indicating syphilis

Publication/Creation

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

Physical description

1 print : engraving, with etching ; image 20.5 x 28.5 cm.

Lettering

The idle 'prentice betray'd by his whore, & taken in a night cellar with his accomplice. plate 9. design'd by W Hogarth. engrav'd by T. Cook. Proverbs chap: VI ve: 26. The adultress will hunt for the precious life

References note

R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, London 1989, 3rd edition, related to 176
British Museum Catalogue of political and personal satires, London 1877, vol. 3, no. 2971

Reference

Wellcome Collection 38375i

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

Permanent link