Hudibras Vanquished by Trulla (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no. 5)

Hudibras Vanquished by Trulla (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no. 5) is a detailed print created by William Hogarth between 1721 and 1726. Executed using the precise lines of etching and engraving, this work is one installment in a larger series illustrating Samuel Butler’s seminal 17th-century satirical poem, Hudibras. The poem, a lengthy mock-heroic narrative, targets the perceived hypocrisy and intellectual rigidity of Puritanical figures during the English Civil War era.

This particular scene depicts the humiliating defeat of the protagonist, the misguided knight Sir Hudibras, at the hands of Trulla, a rough and powerful female character. Trulla, often portrayed with a masculine strength that defies contemporary feminine ideals, has clearly triumphed, leaving Hudibras defeated and sprawling on the ground. The subject matter is rich in caricature, typical of Hogarth's style, highlighting the irony of the knight's intellectual pretensions failing against brute force. The surrounding men watch the confrontation, emphasizing the social dynamics inherent in the poem. The rendering of weapons and armor illustrates the central, albeit clumsy, conflict.

Hogarth’s early commissions focused heavily on literary illustration, laying the groundwork for his later mastery of visual satire through independent prints. This work demonstrates his early aptitude for combining sharp political commentary with dynamic visual narrative. As a key early example of the artist’s output, the print is preserved in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Many such 18th-century prints are now considered part of the public domain, allowing continued study of Hogarth's foundational role in English graphic art.