A Rake's Progress, Plate VII - The Prison

A Rake's Progress is a series of eight paintings and engravings by William Hogarth.  The series was first published in print form in 1735 and shows the decline and fall of Tom Rakewell, a rich merchant's son, who comes to London and leads a life of debauchery resulting in imprisonment and ultimately being sectioned to bedlam madhouse.

'The Prison' is the seventh of the series and Tom Rakewell is now incarcerated in the notorious Fleet debtor's prison, like so many others in 18th centry England, including Hogarth's own father.  His angry one-eyed wife berates him, the beer-boy and jailer harass him for money owed and Sarah and his child look on is helpless distress.  All the inmates are trying various schemes to buy their way out.

This print is produced on St Cuthbert's Mill special acid free archival artboard.

The overall loose print size is 24cm x 33cm.

The framed print is presented in 20mm black wood archivist moulding, complete with rope hanger over hardboard back with a cream board mount.  The overall size is 33cm x 43cm.