Paul Before Felix Burlesqued

Paul Before Felix Burlesqued, created by William Hogarth in 1751, is a quintessential example of the artist's satirical prints, using the biblical scene as a vehicle for contemporary social critique. This work employs a technical combination of etching and engraving, further shaded using mezzotint tone, illustrating Hogarth’s technical command over multiple graphic media. This particular impression is designated as the fourth state of five, documenting the meticulous and often iterative process that the artist applied to his printmaking.

As suggested by its title, the piece burlesques the serious tradition of history painting, transforming the solemn courtroom confrontation between the Apostle Paul and the Roman Governor Felix into a messy, boisterous spectacle. Hogarth replaces the classical dignity expected of the source material with the recognizable chaos of Georgian life. The composition features various figures-of-fun, including sharply observed men and women of the era whose behavior is far from reverent. The background is crowded with onlookers, emphasizing the public nature of the satire.

Rather than focusing on the religious or legal drama, Hogarth directs the viewer's attention to the common human vices and distractions present. The inclusion of a barking dog in the foreground further disrupts the formality of the setting, underscoring the general disorder. Hogarth’s approach allowed his critiques to circulate widely through mass-produced prints, establishing his reputation as the foremost chronicler of eighteenth-century London life. Like many of the artist's pivotal works, reproductions of this piece are now widely available in the public domain. This significant print, Paul Before Felix Burlesqued, resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.