Wrapped in "sweating" blankets and close to the fire Moll Hackabout nears death as two doctors argue. Engraving by William Hogarth.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Reference:
38228i
Part of:
A harlot's progress
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About this work

Description

Next to Moll are her maid and a youth (probably her son). A woman inappropriately searches through Moll's chest for grave clothes, employed to prepare the corpse. Strewn on the floor are various popular remedies for venereal disease. The two doctors have been identified as Dr Richard Rock (1690-1777) and Dr Jean Misaubin (d. 1734). Moll has had several of her teeth removed by Dr Rock and they rest on a piece of paper inscribed with his name. Teeth were loosened with mercury as part of the "salivation" cure for syphilis. Rock offered for sale "The famous, anti-venereal, grand, specifick pill" advertised in the Craftsman (Feb. 24 1732/3). Misaubin was a physician.

Publication/Creation

[London] : [publisher not identified]

Physical description

1 print : engraving, with etching ; image 30.1 x 37.4 cm.

Lettering

Plate 5. Wm. Hogarth invt. pinxt: et sculpt:.

References note

R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, London 1989, 3rd edition, no. 125

Reference

Wellcome Collection 38228i

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