A sparse interior where (G) Mary Toft lies on a curtained bed apparently in the throes of labour. She is attended by (E) her husband Joshua Toft and (F) his sister Margaret, acting as nurse. (D) Dr John Howard is receiving a dead rabbit from a butcher at the door. There are three other men in the room: (A) Nathaniel St André, (C) John Maubray or Cyriacus Ahlers, and (B) a third (Sir John Manningham or Samuel Molyneux) whose arm is thrust beneath Mary's skirts. Rabbits scamper across the floor; others lie dead; to the right is a chamber pot."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Wise men of Godliman in consultation
Description:
Title engraved below image., State, date, and place of publication from Paulson., According to Hogarth's early biographer John Nichols, the print was commissioned by a group of rival surgeons paying a guinea each., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Wm. Hogarth
Subject (Name):
Toft, Mary, 1703-1763, Toft, Joshua, fl. 1720-1726, Manningham, Richard, Sir, 1690-1759, St. André, Nathanael, 1680-1776, and Howard, John, fl. 1690-1720
Subject (Topic):
Births, Butchers, Chamber pots, Canopy beds, Interiors, Physicians, and Rabbits
