ANTIQUE PRINT. William Hogarth. Stages of Cruelty. Set of 4 Engraved Prints.

Set of 4 engraved prints from the folio of 1820, which was the last of the acceptable Hogarth prints from the original plates of 1751. Set consists of “The First Stage of Cruelty”, “The Second Stage of Cruelty”, “Cruelty in Perfection”, and one of Hogarth’s most famous images, “The Reward of Cruelty”, in which the cadavre of the male chauvenist protagonist, whose cruelty has progressed from animals to women, is being disembowled as an exhibit in an anatomy theatre. Each image, including legends, measures approx. 14 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ (approx. 37.5 cm x 29.5 cm). All engravings are clean, bright and sharp. Tissue guards still attached, but in various states of wear. Sold unmounted.