A copy in reverse of William Hogarth's Plate 6 of A harlot's progress: A dilapidated room with Moll Hackabout's friends, mostly prostitutes, gathered around her open coffin, several of them weeping; one young woman stands with her back to the scene as she gazes at herself in the mirror. On the right, a clergyman spills his brandy as he surreptitiously gropes beneath a woman's skirt; Moll's serving woman, standing at the coffin with a wine bottle and glass in hand scowls at the pair. Under the window and to the left, the undertaker flirts with a pretty young prostitute who picks a handkerchief from his pocket. In the foreground Moll's small son plays with a spinning top. Sprigs of yew (rosemary?) decorate her coffin; a plate of yew rests on the floor at the parson's feet, another spring at her son's feet
Alternative Title:
Harlot's progress. Plate 6, Her funeral properly attended, and Pompe de ses funérailles
Description:
Title in English and French engraved below image., Date of publication based on the series of Rake's progress by Henry Parker dated 25 March 1768 in which these same engraved border pieces are used, here visibly more worn, and reversed on the page., The ornamental borders along the left and right edges are printed from a separate plate (images 25 x 2.8 cm, on plate mark 25.7 x 36.4 cm)., Copy of Hogarth's original plate, engraved in reverse as per the piracy published by Elisha Kirkall in 1732., Cf. Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 3, no. 2107., and Cf. Paulson, R. Hogarth's graphic works (3rd ed.), no. 126.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Topic):
Prostitution, Children, Clergy, Coffins, Death, Funeral rites & ceremonies, Interiors, Prostitutes, Rake's progress, Seduction, Servants, Syphilis, Undertakers, and Wake services
