Hudibras and the Lawyer (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 12)

Hudibras and the Lawyer (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 12) by William Hogarth, executed between 1725 and 1726, is a significant early print demonstrating the artist's mastery of etching and engraving. This specific impression is recorded as the second state of three. The work serves as the final plate in a series illustrating Samuel Butler’s celebrated 17th-century narrative poem, Hudibras, a sustained satire aimed at religious and political extremism following the English Civil War. Hogarth shrewdly leveraged the popularity of the poem to launch his career as a professional printmaker, transitioning from minor commissions to the publication of major illustrated books and influential independent satirical series.

The complex scene is set within a cluttered interior, depicting the central figure, the Puritan knight Hudibras, consulting a dishonest lawyer. Hogarth utilizes visual storytelling to amplify the satire, showing the chaotic state of the legal profession through the environment. The cramped space is dominated by the men, with a woman also present, capturing the intense, often ludicrous, negotiation. The table is covered with various legal documents, writing implements, and scattered books crucial to the narrative. The presence of a dog lurking beneath the furniture, a common motif in Hogarth’s work, enhances the sense of domestic squalor and provides a subtle, humorous counterpoint to the seriousness of the proceedings.

As a leading example of early 18th-century British printmaking, this work solidified Hogarth's reputation as the preeminent visual satirist of his age. These large-format prints were commercially successful, circulating the artist’s sharp observations and providing accessible social criticism to a broad audience. This particular impression of Hudibras and the Lawyer is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to the age and historical significance of the original image, the underlying design of this iconic satire is now widely available in the public domain.