About this artwork
William Hogarth illustrated the story of a sad-sack adventurer named Hudibras in twelve engravings. His source was Samuel Butler’s satirical, mock-heroic poem written in the vein of Cervantes and Rabelais. Ridiculing the puritan party’s attempts to overthrow the British monarchy during the Great Civil War of 1640, Butler’s poem exposes the hypocrisy and pretensions of the Presbyterians, Independents, and Zealots who hoped to establish themselves as leaders.
Hudibras’ grand departure into the world appears to be neither impressive, nor particularly noble, from the point of view of the frightened fruit seller at the lower right of this print. Accompanied, Don Quixote-like, by a single squire, the paunchy ruffian is hardly a grand knight sallying forth. He barely seems to be aware of where he is going, and appears unable to stay upright on his overtaxed horse.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Prints and Drawings
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Artist
- William Hogarth
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Title
- Hudibras Sallying Forth, plate two from Hudibras
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Place
- England (Artist's nationality)
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Date
- 1725–1726
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Medium
- Etching and engraving in black on cream paper edge mounted on cream wove paper
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Dimensions
- Image: 24.6 × 33.6 cm (9 11/16 × 13 1/4 in.); Plate: 27 × 34.5 cm (10 11/16 × 13 5/8 in.); Primary support: 27.3 × 34.8 cm (10 3/4 × 13 3/4 in.); Secondary support: 36.5 × 45.9 cm (14 3/8 × 18 1/8 in.)
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Credit Line
- Sara R. Shorey Endowment; purchased with funds provided by Phyllis Neiman and the Woman's Board in honor of Phyllis Neiman
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Reference Number
- 2005.136.2
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/184607/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
