A copy in reverse of William Hogarth's Plate 4 of A harlot's progress: A scene in Bridewell prison with Moll Hackabout and the other inmates beating hemp under the supervision of a stern warder holding a cane. Moll is still dressed in her finery, but a one-eyed female attendant fingers the lace lappet hanging from her cap and her serving-woman sits before her in Moll's elegant shoes; next to her a fellow inmate picks vermin off her clothes. Next to Moll is a gambler, a torn playing card on the floor in front of him; behind her, a man stands with his hands in a pillory on which hangs a sign "Better to Work than Stand thus." Further down the wall is a whipping post with the words "The Wages of Idleness." On a shudder against the back wall is an effigy of Sir John Gonson ("Sr. J G").
Alternative Title:
Harlot's progress. Plate 4, In Bridewell beating hemp, and Dans la maison de correction a battre le chanvre
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 25.5 x 36 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. 2076., and Cf. Paulson, R. Hogarth's graphic works (3rd ed.), no. 124.
An emaciated women sits in a bed playing cards. Her clothes and sheets have tears and holes; the wallpaper is falling off the walls. Under her bed is a used chamber pot and to the left a table with shoes and an umbrella. An elegant coat, dress, and hat suggest better times. A letter on the foreground (right) is addressed: [illegible] CC. Madame de [illegible] rue de Richelieu no. 39.
Description:
Title etched below image., Date based on number 31 in this series, which was listed listed in the 'Bibliographie de France' for 3 June 1820., Series title and numbering etched above image., Printmaker's name etched on table (left) in image: G. de Cari., Between title and subtitle: "Ils sont passés ces jours de fêtes, Ils ne reviendront plus.", and "The series 'Musée Grotesque' consists of at least 65 plates, made over a long period between March 1814 and August 1829. They seem all to have been designed, and in some cases etched, by Godissart de Cari, and all are placed under his name in the British Museum. The first four plates of the series, unlike the others, do not carry the heading 'Musée Grotesque' but rather 'Les Nouvellistes' and are numbered 1 to 4."--British Museum online catalogue.
Publisher:
Chez Martinet, Libraire, rue du Coq, no. 25
Subject (Topic):
Card games, Chamber pots, Gamblers, Poverty, Starvation, and Vice
