Hudibras and the Skimmington (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 7)

Hudibras and the Skimmington (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 7) is a seminal early work by the renowned English artist, William Hogarth. Created between 1725 and 1726, this piece is an engraving, executed here in the second state of three, illustrating a key moment in Samuel Butler's influential 17th-century satirical poem, Hudibras. Hogarth dedicated a substantial series of prints to translating Butler’s narrative into visual form, capturing the poem’s mockery of Puritan hypocrisy and social chaos.

This specific plate documents the boisterous spectacle of the Skimmington, a tradition of public ridicule aimed primarily at shaming abusive husbands or socially disruptive women. The scene is densely packed with observers, featuring numerous men and women participating in the rowdy procession. The composition is highly dynamic, characterized by the artist's keen eye for capturing collective human folly and low-life farce. Central to the composition are the ludicrously mounted figures, often riding horses or mules facing backward, a visual metaphor used to emphasize the disruption of societal norms and the absurdity of the mob action.

Hogarth’s mastery of the engraver’s technique is evident in the detailed crosshatching and dramatic shadows, lending weight and texture to the large format print. This series established Hogarth’s reputation for pointed social commentary, providing the groundwork for his later, more expansive moralizing works. The importance of these early prints is underscored by the inclusion of this impression in the prestigious collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As historical works like this often enter the public domain, high-quality images of Hogarth's pivotal satirical work remain globally accessible.