Hudibras beats Sidrophel and his man Whacum (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 8)

"Hudibras beats Sidrophel and his man Whacum (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 8)" is a complex print created by William Hogarth between 1725 and 1768. This work is part of a celebrated series illustrating Samuel Butler's lengthy 17th-century narrative poem, which satirized Puritan hypocrisy and intellectual folly. Executed in the challenging medium of etching and engraving, the piece is classified as a print and is specifically the second known state of the plate.

The scene captures a moment of chaotic violence and intellectual mockery. Hogarth depicts the confrontation between the protagonist, Hudibras, and the astrologer Sidrophel, a figure who represents fraudulent scientists and charlatanry. The study is intentionally cluttered with superstitious and pseudoscientific paraphernalia, emphasizing Sidrophel’s deceit. Amidst the conflict involving the three men, the atmosphere is heavy with symbolic references to fear and the dark arts. Hanging prominently is a human skeleton, while nocturnal creatures such as bats and owls hover, reinforcing the theme of intellectual darkness.

Hogarth further satirizes the scene through specific detail, including a taxidermied crocodile suspended from the ceiling. This prop was a common theatrical addition in the studies of astrologers and apothecaries, symbolizing exotic knowledge but often signifying quackery. The inclusion of cats and various symbolic instruments underscores the pervasive superstition the poem, and Hogarth, sought to dismantle. This powerful illustration showcases Hogarth’s mastery of visual satire. The physical work resides within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As with many significant historical prints from this period, high-resolution images are widely available through public domain initiatives.