The scene is the interior of a perpendicular Gothic church. The sand in the hourglass has run out, but the preacher continues to lecture, oblivious to the fact that his congregation has fallen asleep. The clerk below the pulpit eyes the bosom of the young woman sleeping in the lower right, fan in one hand and a book open to "... of Matrimony" about to slip from her fingers
Description:
Title from caption below image., One of only a handful of Hogarth's original plates that have survived, this plate shows the work of the artist over a period of years, from its creation in 1736 with the evidence of later changes made in 1762 as a more mature artist., "Price one shilling.", Copper plate for print described in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 2, no. 2285., and For a description of the prints from this copper plate see R. Paulson's: Hogarth's graphic works, no. 140.
