Hudibras and the Skimmington (Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 7)

Art Historical Context

Step into the satirical world of 18th-century England with *Hudibras and the Skimmington*, Plate from William Hogarth's twelve large for Samuel Butler's mock-heroic poem *Hudibras*. Created between February 1725 and 1726, this engraving captures a chaotic scene from Butler's 1660s verse, which lampooned Puritan hypocrisy and fanaticism through the bumbling knight Hudibras. Hogarth, a master of biting social commentary in the Rococo era, designed the composition, with engravings executed by John Cooper and Philip Overton—highlighting the collaborative printmaking process of the time. In this second state of three, the 10 9/16 x 20-inch sheet teems with horses, men, and women in a raucous "skimmington" procession—a traditional English folk ritual of public shaming, often for marital discord. Hogarth's intricate line work and dynamic compositions cram the plate with exaggerated figures, sharp details, and humorous vignettes, making it a pinnacle of satirical printmaking. Engravings like this were affordable, widely circulated, fueling public discourse on morality and folly. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1932), this work exemplifies how Hogarth elevated illustration into high art, blending literature and visual wit to critique society. A lively window into Restoration satire reborn in Georgian England!

About the Artist

John Cooper|Philip Overton|William Hogarth|Samuel Butler (British|British|British|British) · 1700 |1700 |1697 |1580 –1744 |1800 |1764 |1680

British, active from 1707, died 1744|London|British, London 1697–1764 London|British, baptized Strensham, Worcestershire 1613–1680 Covent Garden