The Third Stage of Cruelty: Cruelty in Perfection (The Murderer)
Date:
1751
Materials & Techniques:
Engraving on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper
Dimensions:
Sheet: 15 1/2 × 12 1/2 inches (39.4 × 31.8 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
Lettered above image, upper center: "CRUELTY IN PERFECTION."; inside image, lower center: "Here lieth | the Body"; inside image, lower left: "Dear Tommy | My Mistress has been | the best of Women to me, and my | Conscience flies in my face as | often as I think of wronging her, | yet I am resolv'd to venture Body | & Soul to do as you would have me | so don't fail to meet me as you | said you would. For I shall | bring along with me all the | things I can lay my hands on, | so no more at present | but I remain yours till | Death, Ann Gill."; lower left: "To Thos. Nero | at P-"; inside image, lower center: "A. G. | Common | Prayer | GOD's | Revenge | against | Murder"; below image, lower left: "Price 1 s."; below image, lower left: "To lawless Love when once betray'd, | Soon Crime to Crime Succeeds: | At length beguil'd to Theft, the Maid | By her Beguiler bleeds."; lower center: "Yet learn, seducing Man! nor Night, | With all its sable Cloud, | Can screen the guilty Deed from Sight; | Foul Murder cries aloud."; lower right: "The gaping Wounds, and bloodstain'd Steel, | Now shock his trembling Soul: | But Oh! what Pangs his Breast must feel, | When Death his Knell shall toll."; lower center: "Published according to Act of Parliament Feb.1.1751"; lower right: "Design'd by W.Hogarth."
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1981.25.1442
Classification:
Prints
Collection:
Prints and Drawings
Currently On View:
Not on view
Exhibition History:
Teaching Exhibition - Introduction to the History of Art (Yale University Art Gallery, 1994-01-25 - 1994-06-06)
Publications:
Alice Insley, William Hogarth : visions in print, Tate Publishing, London, 2021, pp. 15, 62, 78, NJ18 .H67 I57 2021 (YCBA)John Mullan, His Picture was His Stage, TLS, the Times Literary Supplement, Issue no. 5425, March 23, 2007, pp. 18-19, Film S748 (SML) Also Available Online in TLS Archive