The Industrious 'Prentice Lord Mayor of London: Industry and Idleness, plate 12

The Industrious 'Prentice Lord Mayor of London: Industry and Idleness, plate 12 by William Hogarth, created in 1747, is the culminating image in the artist’s celebrated narrative series detailing the divergent paths of two London apprentices. This work, classified as an influential 18th-century print, utilizes the combined techniques of etching and engraving to achieve its precise details and deep tones. The series concludes with the industrious apprentice, Francis Goodchild, achieving the highest civic office, illustrating the moral lesson that underpins Hogarth’s elaborate social commentary.

This final plate focuses on the spectacular public ceremony of the Lord Mayor’s procession. Hogarth captures the dense, chaotic energy of the large crowd that lines the route, eager to witness the lavish display. His celebrated use of satire is evident in the detailed rendering of the period’s elaborate carriages and the varying social types observing the event. The scene is saturated with historical context, firmly grounding the viewer in the bustling metropolitan reality of 18th-century London, contrasting the squalor depicted in earlier plates with institutional success.

This impression represents the first state of three known iterations, allowing for a study of the initial complexity of the etched line work. As a seminal example of English satirical graphic art, the piece highlights Hogarth’s unparalleled skill in creating engaging narrative sequences through prints. This significant example of social commentary is housed in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.