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1 print : etching and stipple, with engraving ; image 45.4 x 57.4 cm

Geneviève de Brabant, abandoned with her child in the wilderness, is later rediscovered by her husband while he is hunting. Engraving by Augustin Legrand, 1795, after J.F. Schall.

Bible, O.T. Exodus 2.10. "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

1 print : line engraving ; platemark 42 x 52 cm

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

Saint Vincent de Paul: he rescues a baby abandoned in the snow. Line engraving by P. Baquoy after N. A. Monsiaux.

Bible, Old Testament, Exodus 2: 3-5

1 print : etching ; image and lettering 26.8 x 34.1 cm

The finding of the infant Moses in the Nile river. Etching after P. da Cortona.

1 print : line engraving, with etching ; image 47 x 35.3 cm

The infants Romulus and Remus are found by the shepherd Faustulus in the Tiber and are brought to his house for fostering. Line engraving by R. Strange after Pietro da Cortona.

1 print : etching ; platemark 29 x 22.1 cm

The mother of Moses sadly abandons her child by the river Nile. Etching by C. Heath, 1821, after R. Westall after N. Poussin, 1654.

According to legend, Cyrus the Great was exposed as a child as a result of a dream experienced by his grandfather that his grandson would one day overthrow him. Right, a tumulus carved with a relief sculpture and a tomb effigy

1 print : engraving ; image 43.9 x 40.4 cm

The infant Cyrus, being brought up by a dog, is discovered by a woman herding goats. Engraving by J. Boydell, 1765, after R. Earlom after G.B. Castiglione.

"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

1 print : line engraving ; platemark 42.7 x 52.8 cm

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

Now the Crown Court, Snaresbrook, Essex

1 print : lithograph, with brown wash ; image 37 x 60.5 cm

Infant Orphan Asylum, Snaresbrook, Essex: perspective view. Coloured lithograph by G. Hawkins after G.G. Scott and W.B. Moffat.

1 print : mezzotint, with engraving ; image 23.5 x 36.7 cm

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Geneviève de Brabant, abandoned with her child in the wilderness, is later rediscovered by her husband while he is hunting. Engraving by Augustin Legrand, 1795, after J.F. Schall.

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

Saint Vincent de Paul: he rescues a baby abandoned in the snow. Line engraving by P. Baquoy after N. A. Monsiaux.

The finding of the infant Moses in the Nile river. Etching after P. da Cortona.

The infants Romulus and Remus are found by the shepherd Faustulus in the Tiber and are brought to his house for fostering. Line engraving by R. Strange after Pietro da Cortona.

The mother of Moses sadly abandons her child by the river Nile. Etching by C. Heath, 1821, after R. Westall after N. Poussin, 1654.

The infant Cyrus, being brought up by a dog, is discovered by a woman herding goats. Engraving by J. Boydell, 1765, after R. Earlom after G.B. Castiglione.

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

Infant Orphan Asylum, Snaresbrook, Essex: perspective view. Coloured lithograph by G. Hawkins after G.G. Scott and W.B. Moffat.

Cyrus is discovered by a shepherd and a shepherdess while he suckles a dog. Mezzotint by R. Earlom after G.B. Castiglione.

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Geneviève de Brabant, abandoned with her child in the wilderness, is later rediscovered by her husband while he is hunting. Engraving by Augustin Legrand, 1795, after J.F. Schall.

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

Saint Vincent de Paul: he rescues a baby abandoned in the snow. Line engraving by P. Baquoy after N. A. Monsiaux.

The finding of the infant Moses in the Nile river. Etching after P. da Cortona.

The infants Romulus and Remus are found by the shepherd Faustulus in the Tiber and are brought to his house for fostering. Line engraving by R. Strange after Pietro da Cortona.

The mother of Moses sadly abandons her child by the river Nile. Etching by C. Heath, 1821, after R. Westall after N. Poussin, 1654.

The infant Cyrus, being brought up by a dog, is discovered by a woman herding goats. Engraving by J. Boydell, 1765, after R. Earlom after G.B. Castiglione.

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

Infant Orphan Asylum, Snaresbrook, Essex: perspective view. Coloured lithograph by G. Hawkins after G.G. Scott and W.B. Moffat.

Cyrus is discovered by a shepherd and a shepherdess while he suckles a dog. Mezzotint by R. Earlom after G.B. Castiglione.

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

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Wellcome collection