180180 - Hogarth, William. 'The Reward of Cruelty'. Cook Edn. Pub Oct 1 1799 - Robinson. Plate 33x40cm.

Cruelty.  The extended moral of this series of engravings, is that cruel children, if left unchecked by society, become cruel adults. Hogarth suggests that it is a natural progression from Nero’s abuse of animals to his life of crime, culminating in his vicious attack on another human being. Only then, belatedly, does the establishment intervene with an act of legalised violence, hanging. The final scene continues the theme to startling and ironic effect, when, after execution, Nero’s body is brutally and gratuitously dissected, watched by lawyers, surgeons, clerics and gentleman onlookers.

William Hogarth (1697–1764).   English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, & social critic, remembered as the father of satirical caricatures and moral paintings, a genre which would later develop into cartoons. His series of moral paintings, such as 'A Harlot's Progress' and 'A Rake's Progress'took a satirical look at the government and social scene of the day, and highlighted the best and worst parts of English culture. Satirical political illustrations in this style are often referred to as "Hogarthian". His engravings which were sold in large numbers to people who would not have been able to previously afford art. He is said to have brought art to the common man for the first time in history.  These Cook edition engravings are in excellent condition and the best of his satirical musings.