Moses Brought to Pharaoh's Daughter

"Moses Brought to Pharaoh's Daughter" is a significant 1752 print created by William Hogarth. This work is executed in the demanding medium of etching and engraving, demonstrating Hogarth's technical skill in handling line and shadow. The piece exists in the fourth, definitive state of four, indicating the artist’s final revisions and intentions for the composition. Hogarth frequently employed printmaking techniques to disseminate his narrative and morally didactic works widely among the 18th-century British public.

The subject draws directly from the biblical narrative of Exodus, depicting the crucial moment when the rescued infant Moses is presented to Pharaoh's daughter. The composition focuses on the interaction between the high-ranking Women and the central figure of Moses, illustrating the diverse roles of the attendants and other figures, including Men, surrounding the presentation. The inclusion of young Girls in the entourage helps to emphasize the hierarchical and courtly domestic settings of the scene. Hogarth’s distinct approach to history painting often subverted rigid classical ideals, injecting characteristic 18th-century realism into established religious and historical narratives.

This highly detailed print is a crucial example of Hogarth’s late career output, illustrating his continued engagement with grand themes as he refined his graphic techniques. Prints like Moses Brought to Pharaoh’s Daughter were instrumental in shaping the artistic landscape of the period. Today, this impression resides in the respected collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a historically important work from 1752, the imagery is often studied and referenced, and high-quality reproductions of these historical prints are frequently found within the public domain, ensuring the work remains highly accessible for scholarly research and appreciation.