Entering from the left, Walter Shandy, having had trouble pulling on his pants, arrives too late to prevent the curate from baptizing his newborn son with the hated name of Tristram
Description:
Title from Paulson., From Paulson: The plate ... appeared in the second edition published May 21, 1761., Location in volume lacking in this second plate., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Ms. note in pencil in Steevens's hand on page near grouping: For these plates to Tristram Shandy, see Mr. Nichols's book 3rd edition, p. 372 & 374, 375., and On page 186 in volume 2.
Copy of the frontispiece to Laurence Sterne's 'The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman', 2nd ed. (R and J Dodsley: London, 1760), vol. 1 (illustrating an episode in vol. 2); Corporal Trim stands at right, reading a sermon on Conscience, seen from behind and illustrating the passage in which his posture is described with 'his knee bent, but that not violently - but so as to fall within the limits of the line of beauty'; at left Dr Slop, asleep in a chair by the fire; behind, Walter Shandy and Uncle Toby sitting and smoking, Toby's map of the fortifications at Namur above on the wall; state with grandfather clock in the corner and tricorne hat on the floor
Description:
Title from original print on which this reversed copy is based. See Paulson., "Vol. I, page 214"--Upper right corner., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Copy of: Paulson, R. Hogarth's graphic works (3rd ed.), no. 233., and On page 186 in volume 2.
Publisher:
Published as the act directs Jany. 14th 1780 by W. Strahan, T. Cadell, J. Dodsley, G. Robinson, & J. Murray, &c. &c.