4177 x 3000 px | 35,4 x 25,4 cm | 13,9 x 10 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
1883
Ubicazione:
England
Altre informazioni:
Questa immagine potrebbe avere delle imperfezioni perché è storica o di reportage.
Plate from Hogarth's Works published 1883 by Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier. Info from wiki: Industry and Idleness is the title of a series of 12 plot-linked engravings created by William Hogarth in 1747, intending to illustrate to working children the possible rewards of hard work and diligent application and the sure disasters attending a lack of both. In plate 1 the two protagonists are introduced: both are "'prentices" on equal terms with their master, and doing the same work. Beyond this framework, the two characters display their respective traits: Francis is busy at work with his loom and shuttle, with his copy of "The Prentice's Guide" at his feet and various wholesome[6] literature tacked up on the wall behind him such as "The London Prentice" and (portentously) "Whitington Ld Mayor". Tom Idle leans snoring against his still loom, probably as a result of a huge mug labelled "Spittle Fields" sitting on his loom. A clay pipe is wedged into the handle and a cat is busy interfering with the shuttle. Tacked to the post that he is sleeping against is "Moll Flanders"; his "Prentice's Guide" is also lying on the ground, but in a filthy and shredded state. To the right their master, with a thick stick in his hand, looks disappointedly at Thomas. The future courses of the two apprentices are marked off for them by the imagery surrounding the frame of the painting: To the left, representing Idle's future, a whip, fetters and a rope; to the right, over Goodchild, a ceremonial mace, sword of state and golden chain. The master's sword segues exactly into the shaft of the mace: more foreshadowing for the second encounter of the two in plate 9.
