The Sleeping Congregation
Human frailty provided Hogarth with an endless source of humour. His incisive satires communicate lessons through candid portrayals of people’s shortcomings.
In this scene, a congregation nods off during a church service as the clergyman reads from the gospel.
The parish clerk in the centre stares at the exposed bosom of the sleeping woman on the right — his devotion displaced from the Virgin to the young woman. When Hogarth republished this plate in 1762 he added extra details including warts on the reader’s face and cracks in the wall.
In this scene, a congregation nods off during a church service as the clergyman reads from the gospel.
The parish clerk in the centre stares at the exposed bosom of the sleeping woman on the right — his devotion displaced from the Virgin to the young woman. When Hogarth republished this plate in 1762 he added extra details including warts on the reader’s face and cracks in the wall.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 20/1932/16
- Collection Class
- Prints
- Medium
- engraving on paper
- Common Name
- The Sleeping Congregation
- Simple Name
- Inscription Transcription
- Invented Engraved & Published October 26th 1736 by Wm Hogarth Pursuatn to an Act of Parliament Price One Shilling. Retouched & Improved April 21 1762 by the Author; I am afraid of you test I have bestowed upon you labours in vain; Come unto me all of ye who labour I will give you peace
- Period Classification
- George III (1760-1811)
- Production Town
- Production Country
- England; England; England
- Production Person Initials
- WilliamWilliamWilliam
- Production Person Surname
- HogarthHogarthHogarth
- Production Year Low
- 1736
- Production Year High
- 1762
