Sr. Hudibras, His Passing Worth, The Manner How He Sally'd Forth" (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 2)

"Sr. Hudibras, His Passing Worth, The Manner How He Sally'd Forth" (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 2) by William Hogarth is a significant example of early 18th-century English satirical prints. Executed using the laborious combined techniques of etching and engraving, this impression represents the third and final state of the plate, refined by Hogarth over several decades spanning 1725 to 1768. This piece functions as the second installment in the artist's grand visual interpretation of Samuel Butler’s popular mock-heroic poem, Hudibras, which famously satirized the political and religious hypocrisies of the Puritan era.

The work vividly captures the absurd departure of the titular character as he sets out on his quest. Hogarth employs his signature narrative detail, depicting various figures in farcical action. The scene is populated by specific social types, featuring men on horseback, accompanying women, a commotion involving dogs, and incidental characters such as gardeners visible in the chaotic background, all contributing to the comic atmosphere. Hogarth’s masterful handling of line and shadow emphasizes the satirical nature of the heroic quest. The widespread popularity of such prints established Hogarth as the preeminent visual chronicler of Georgian London. Held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this definitive impression is crucial for scholars studying the development of narrative art and 18th-century prints. This seminal work is now available as public domain art for educational and reference purposes.