A woman swearing a child to a grave citizen, after Hogarth; a pregnant young woman standing to right, swearing on a book before a magistrate who sits at a bench to left with a book labelled 'Law of Bastadry [sic]' in front of him, that the child is by an old man wearing a dark wig with a ruff hanging at his waist, while he raises his hands and eyes to heaven, protesting innocence, his wife, wearing a coif and bonnet shakes her fist, upbraiding him, and the true father, a young man, crouches behind the woman, whispering counsel; beside the magistrate to left, a little girl sits teaching a dog to walk on its hind legs
Alternative Title:
Denunciation
Description:
Title from Paulson and British Museum catalogue. Alternative title from Paulson: The denunciation., Twelve lines of verse describing the scene etched below image: 'Here Justice triumphs in his Elbow Chair, And makes his Market of the trading Fair; His Office Shelves with Parsh Laws are grac'd, But Spelling Books and Guides between 'em plac'd. Here pregnant Madam screens the real Sire, And Sally swears her Bastard Child for Hire Upon a Rich old Letcher, who denies The Fact, and vows the naughty Hussif [sic] lies; His Wife enrag'd, exclaims against her Spouse, And Swears she'l be reveng'd upon his Brows; The Jade, the Justice and Church Ward'ns agree, And force him to provide Security'., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and See reference in: Paulson, R. Hogarth's graphic works (1st ed.), p. 309.
Publisher:
Sold by J. Sympson engraver and print-seller at the Dove in Russell Court, Drury Lane
Subject (Topic):
Children, Couples, Courtrooms, Dogs, and Pregnant women
