An insane man (Tom Rakewell) sits on the floor manically grasping at his head, his lover (Sarah Young) cries at the spectacle while two attendants attach chains to his legs; they are surrounded by other lunatics at Bethlem hospital, London. Engraving by W. Hogarth, 1763.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Date:
June ye 25 1735 [i.e. 1763]
Reference:
20040i
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Publication/Creation

[London] : Publish'd according to Act of Parliament, June ye 25 1735 [i.e. 1763]

Physical description

1 print : line engraving with etching ; platemark 35.8 x 41 cm

Lettering

Madness, thou chaos of ye brain ... Invented & c by Wm. Hogarth ... Retouch'd by the author 1763. Lettering continues: "What art? That pleasure givst, and pain? Tyranny of fancy's reign! Mechanic fancy; that can build vast labyrynth's, & mazes wild, with rule disjointed, shapeless measure, fill'd with horror, fill'd with pleasure! Shapes of horror, that wou'd even cast doubt of mercy upon heaven. Shapes of pleasure, that but seen wou'd split the shaking sides of spleen. O vanity of age! here see the stamp of heaven effac'd by thee. The headstrong course of youth thus run, what comfort from this darling son! His rattling chains with terror hear, behold death grappling with despair; see him by thee to ruin sold, and curse thy self, & curse thy gold."

Edition

3rd state.

Notes

This print is plate VIII (the final one in the series) to Hogarth, A rake's progress, first published in 1735, this is the 3rd state which was published in 1763

References note

The first state appears in: British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. III, pt. 1, London 1877, no. 2246
R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, 3 ed., London 1989, no. 139

Reference

Wellcome Collection 20040i

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