Hudibras Vanquished by Trulla (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 5)

Hudibras Vanquished by Trulla (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 5) by William Hogarth is a foundational satirical print created during the artist’s prolific period between 1725 and 1768. This work is part of a significant series illustrating Samuel Butler’s lengthy seventeenth-century mock-heroic poem, Hudibras. Executed through the technical processes of etching and engraving, this specific impression represents the fifth and final state, documenting Hogarth’s meticulous revision process across the decades required to complete the suite. The print currently resides in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The scene depicts a dramatic confrontation central to Butler’s narrative, illustrating the protagonist, Sir Hudibras, being decisively defeated by the formidable figure of Trulla. Hogarth captures the chaotic moment with detailed rendering, starkly contrasting the defeated man with the dominant woman. The composition uses architectural elements common in eighteenth-century prints; a stone bridge stretches across the middle ground, framed by various buildings and structures that anchor the satirical action within a busy, recognizable environment. Hogarth utilized the visual comedy inherent in the poem, presenting the figures in exaggerated poses to emphasize the absurdity of the conflict and the inversion of traditional heroic roles.

As a master of narrative satire, Hogarth employed the print medium to widely disseminate his social and political commentary. This piece, along with the other eleven large illustrations in the series, showcases his technical brilliance in combining etching and engraving for achieving depth and line precision. As historic prints from the early eighteenth century, these illustrations are foundational to the study of English literature and graphic arts. Due to the age of the original plates, many high-resolution images and prints of Hogarth's influential works are available through public domain collections today, ensuring their continued study and appreciation.