William Hogarth

William Hogarth's "Illustrations for Samuel Butler's 'Hudibras' Plate 7 Hudibras Encounters the Skimmington": This engraving, as well as (plate 11), are significantly larger than the other ten engravings. Both depict crowd scenes and bear similarities to Hogarth's later works of art such as, "The March to Finchley" and "The Idle Prentice Executed at Tyburn". A 'Skimmington' was an old custom in rural England and Scotland directed at either nagging wives or unfaithful husbands. An unruly procession was formed for the purpose of ridiculing the offender. In cases of 'hen-pecking' the man would ride behind the woman while she beat him about the jowls with a ladle. This is seen to the left of the image. Hudibras, to the right, misinterprets the festivities as an unholy, anti-Christian ceremony.

"What means, quoth he, this Devil's Procession
With Men of Orthodox Profession,
Are things of Superstitious Function,
Fit to be us'd in Gospel Sun-Shine:
It is an Antichirstian Opera,
Much us'd in Midnight times of Popery."

Some scenes, like the boy putting a torch to the squire's horse, are from the poem. The man urinating against the wall, the figure tossing the cat and the boy stealing sausages from Hudibras, however, are Hogarth's. With variations they will appear in later engravings, such as, "The Four Stages of Cruelty".

Illustrations for Samuel Butler's 'Hudibras' is William Hogarth's first published set of original engravings initially published in 1725. "Hudibras Encounters the Skimmington" (Plate 7), is an original engraving printed upon early nineteenth century wove paper and with large, full margins as published for the final Heath edition in 1822. "Hudibras Encounters the Skimmington" (Plate VII); Paulson Catalogue #79, Third and Final State. This engraving, as well as (Hudibras, plate 11), are significantly larger than the other ten engravings. (Complete Set of Twelve Original Engravings On Seven large Sheets of Paper).