Two Dromedaries (Aubry de La Mottraye's "Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa...," London, 1724, plate 314)

The detailed print, Two Dromedaries (Aubry de La Mottraye's "Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa...," London, 1724, plate 314), was executed by William Hogarth between 1723 and 1724. This early work by the renowned English master is an engraving in its first state, created for publication in Aubry de La Mottraye's expansive travelogue. Travel literature was immensely popular in the early eighteenth century, and Hogarth frequently utilized his skills as an engraver to fulfill commissions for book publishers before establishing his reputation for moral subjects and satirical prints.

As Plate 314 in the 1724 London edition, the image depicts two powerful dromedaries, distinguishable by their single humps, possibly being handled by attending men. The composition emphasizes the animals' exotic nature, characteristic of illustrations intended to inform a European readership about distant regions of Asia and Africa referenced in La Mottraye's text. Although relatively small, the work demonstrates Hogarth’s precision in translating preparatory drawings into detailed line work suitable for mass reproduction. This classification as a commercial print highlights its function as documentary illustration rather than autonomous fine art.

Dating from the period when Hogarth was solidifying his career as a commercial artist, this piece provides valuable insight into the scope of his early output. It survives today as part of the extensive collection of prints held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and institutional provenance, the artwork is generally considered to be in the public domain, allowing wide access to detailed reproductions of Hogarth’s often-overlooked illustrative work.