Hudubras and Ralpho Disputing (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no. 8)

Hudubras and Ralpho Disputing (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no. 8) is a foundational print by William Hogarth, dating from approximately 1721-1726. Executed in the demanding technique of etching and engraving, this illustration is part of a significant series Hogarth produced based on Samuel Butler’s 17th-century satirical poem, Hudibras. These illustrations were among Hogarth’s earliest major commissions and were instrumental in establishing his reputation in the early eighteenth century as a master of detailed, narrative graphic art.

This particular scene, the eighth in the set, captures a tense moment of intellectual conflict between the central figures: the Puritan knight Hudibras and his sharp-witted independent squire, Ralpho. Hogarth portrays the two men engaged in a complex theological dispute, emphasizing their dramatic gestures and rigid postures. The men are situated outdoors, framed by carefully delineated background elements that include various architectural structures and buildings, highlighting Hogarth’s attention to setting even within a small-format print.

The masterful handling of the medium is evident in the interplay of etched lines and finely engraved details, which creates rich textural depth and contrasting light effects. Hogarth utilized the printmaking process throughout his career to disseminate his satirical and moral subjects to a wide audience. As a key example of British eighteenth-century graphic art and the artist’s early engagement with sequential narrative, the work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to its age and historical importance, this work, like many other Hogarth prints, is now part of the public domain, ensuring its continued accessibility for study and appreciation.