Artist
William Hogarth (English, 1697–1764)English, 1697–1764
CultureEnglish
Titles
- The First Stage of Cruelty
Date1750-1751
MediumEtching with some engraving on laid paper, state I/II
DimensionsPlate: 15 3/16 × 12 5/8 in. (38.5 × 32 cm)
Sheet: 21 7/8 × 17 5/16 in. (55.5 × 44 cm)
Mat: 24 × 19 15/16 in. (60.9 × 50.7 cm)
Sheet: 21 7/8 × 17 5/16 in. (55.5 × 44 cm)
Mat: 24 × 19 15/16 in. (60.9 × 50.7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Carolyn Bullard
Object number2022.319
Not on view
Explore Further
Department
Prints and DrawingsObject Type
Exhibition HistoryNone known
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Recto: Inscribed in black printed ink, in plate, left bottom edge: While various Scenes of sportive Woe / The Infant Race emply, / And tortur'd Victims bleeding shew / The Tyrant in the Boy. / Design'd by W. Hogarth
Recto: Inscribed in black printed ink, in plate, center bottom edge: Behold! a Youth of gentler Heart, / To spare the Creature's pain / O take, he cries—take all my Tart, / But Tears and Tart are vain. / Published according to Act of Parliament Feb. 1. 1751.
Recto: Inscribed in black printed ink, in plate, right bottom edge: Learn from this fair Example — You / Whom savage Sports delight, / How Cruelty disgusts the view / While Pity charms the sight. / Price 1.
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, on mat, bottom left corner: SSCB09PAE
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, on mat, center bottom edge: William Hogarth 1697-1794 / The First Stage of Cruelty from The Four Stages of Cruelty (February 1750/1) / Paulson 187, I/II, before the price is removed / A good, lifetime impression
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, on mat, bottom right corner: $1400.-
Verso: Inscribed in graphite, bottom left corner: 0539 IM/encircled letters EM/ s[?] [?] fo[?] [possibly “set of four”]/[illegible]
Recto: Inscribed in black printed ink, in plate, center bottom edge: Behold! a Youth of gentler Heart, / To spare the Creature's pain / O take, he cries—take all my Tart, / But Tears and Tart are vain. / Published according to Act of Parliament Feb. 1. 1751.
Recto: Inscribed in black printed ink, in plate, right bottom edge: Learn from this fair Example — You / Whom savage Sports delight, / How Cruelty disgusts the view / While Pity charms the sight. / Price 1.
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, on mat, bottom left corner: SSCB09PAE
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, on mat, center bottom edge: William Hogarth 1697-1794 / The First Stage of Cruelty from The Four Stages of Cruelty (February 1750/1) / Paulson 187, I/II, before the price is removed / A good, lifetime impression
Recto: Inscribed in graphite, on mat, bottom right corner: $1400.-
Verso: Inscribed in graphite, bottom left corner: 0539 IM/encircled letters EM/ s[?] [?] fo[?] [possibly “set of four”]/[illegible]
None known
Catalogue raisonnéPaulson 1970.187 i/ii (before the price removed); British Museum Satires 3147; Dobson & Armstrong p. 211
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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William Hogarth
March/May 1738
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state I/II
2014.907.24
William Hogarth
March/May 1738
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state I/I
2014.907.21
William Hogarth
November 1741
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state II/II
2014.907.28
William Hogarth
March 1736/1737
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state II/II
2014.907.27
William Hogarth
March/May 1738
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state II/II
2014.907.22
William Hogarth
April/June 1745
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state I/III
2014.907.17
William Hogarth
June 1735
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state I/III
2014.907.11
William Hogarth
June 1735
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state I/III
2014.907.10
William Hogarth
April/June 1745
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state II/V
2014.907.16
William Hogarth
April/June 1745
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state II/IV
2014.907.18
William Hogarth
June 1735
Engraving and etching on laid paper, state II/III
2014.907.12