"The Industrious 'Prentice Lord Mayor of London: Industry and Idleness, plate 12" is the concluding plate in the renowned 1747 series Industry and Idleness by William Hogarth. Executed using the meticulous technique of etching and engraving, this second state of three serves as the visual climax of the moralizing narrative, documenting the final triumph of the diligent apprentice, Francis Goodchild.
Hogarth’s masterful satire is evident in this grand depiction of civic achievement. The complex scene unfolds along a packed street in London, illustrating Goodchild’s elevation to the status of Lord Mayor. A massive crowd lines the thoroughfare, pressing against the stately buildings to witness the elaborate procession. The celebratory atmosphere is conveyed through the intricate detail of the composition, which includes ceremonial figures, liveried servants, and ornate carriages necessary for the official proceedings.
As a key work of Georgian era social commentary, this print underscores the didactic message that hard work leads to prosperity and civic honor, a theme central to 18th-century British graphic arts. The contrast between Goodchild's success and the fate of the idle apprentice (detailed in the previous prints) provides the series with its powerful moral framework. Hogarth, who often distributed his works through subscription, used these detailed engravings to reach a wide public audience. This significant piece of graphic satire is held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it represents a crucial example of British prints from the 1740s.
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