The Idle 'Prentice Executed at Tyburn: Industry and Idleness, plate 11

The Idle 'Prentice Executed at Tyburn: Industry and Idleness, plate 11 by William Hogarth, dated 1747, is the dramatic culmination of the artist’s famed twelve-part graphic series contrasting the destinies of two apprentices. This impression is created using the specialized technique of etching and engraving, representing the second state of the three known versions. The Industry and Idleness series was explicitly designed as a didactic, moralizing tale, demonstrating how diligence leads to prosperity while idleness inevitably results in crime, disgrace, and ultimately, capital punishment.

This pivotal work captures the grim final moments of Tom Idle's descent: his public execution at Tyburn, London's primary site for hangings during the era. Hogarth excels at depicting the spectacle and chaos inherent in 18th-century judicial ritual. A massive, unruly crowd has gathered, shown crammed into the composition, eager witnesses to the event. The execution procession itself is meticulously rendered, showing the condemned man beneath the notorious gallows, surrounded by guards, officials, and hawkers. Hogarth’s detailed observation of the diverse social types within the crowd emphasizes the theatrical nature of public punishment during this historical period.

As a highly circulated set of moralizing prints, Industry and Idleness achieved broad appeal across social classes, reflecting Hogarth's innovative approach to visual storytelling. Hogarth masterfully uses the print medium to convey his stark moral lesson, securing the work's lasting impact as both art and social commentary. This historical work is essential for understanding 18th-century British culture and is held within the extensive prints collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.