Hudibras Triumphant (Plate 4: Illustrations to Samuel Butler's Hudibras)

Hudibras Triumphant (Plate 4: Illustrations to Samuel Butler's Hudibras) is an etching and engraving executed by William Hogarth between 1725 and 1730. This print is a key component of Hogarth's illustrative series based on Samuel Butler’s 17th-century satirical epic poem, Hudibras, which sharply ridiculed religious zealotry and Puritan politics. Hogarth, the renowned master of English satirical art, used this medium to translate Butler’s biting wit and complex narrative into vivid, accessible visual scenes for the 18th-century audience.

The technique of etching and engraving allowed Hogarth to achieve the fine detail necessary to render the chaotic energy of the scene. Plate 4 typically illustrates a moment of perceived success or exaggerated celebration for the protagonist, though the overall impression is one of absurdity rather than genuine glory. The composition is deliberately cluttered, featuring a crowd of men and women participating in the loud procession. Horses often dominate the center of the frame, adding to the sense of mock-heroic chaos. Details such as prominently featured violins further emphasize the raucous atmosphere of the event, suggesting a rowdy popular entertainment or public mockery.

This important early work demonstrates Hogarth's emerging skill in crafting complex narrative prints. As a crucial record of Hogarth’s interpretation of English literary history, the piece is classified as a print and resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Given the historical significance of the artist and the age of the original series, many high-quality impressions of these detailed prints are widely accessible today through the public domain.