A copy in reverse of William Hogarth’s Plate 6 of A harlot’s progress: A dilapidated room with Moll Hackabout’s friends, mostly prostitutes, gathered around her open coffin, several of them weeping; one young woman stands with her back to the scene as she gazes at herself in the mirror. On the right, a clergyman spills his brandy as he surreptitiously gropes beneath a woman’s skirt; Moll’s serving woman, standing at the coffin with a wine bottle and glass in hand scowls at the pair. Under the window and to the left, the undertaker flirts with a pretty young prostitute who picks a handkerchief from his pocket. In the foreground Moll’s small son plays with a spinning top. Sprigs of yew (rosemary?) decorate her coffin; a plate of yew rests on the floor at the parson’s feet, another spring at her son’s feet.
- Title: A harlots progress. Plate VI [graphic] : Her funeral properly attended = Pompe de ses funérailles / invented & painted by Wm. Hogarth.
- Publication: [London] : [publisher not identified], [not before 25 March 1768]
Hogarth 768.03.25.14+ Box 210
Acquired December 2019
An illustrated broadside with text describing in detail the ceremonies and events around the funeral and burial of Queen Caroline from Monday 13th August as her body lay in state at Brandenburgh House, through the early afternoon interment in Brunswick on 25th August. The broadside records the argument between Sir George Naylor and Mr. Bailey who had assigned responsibility for the events by the George IV and the Caroline’s executor Dr. Lushington. The official route attempted to negate the threat of violence from a mob by steering it away from the city center. However, a mob blocked the cortege’s path forcing it to re-route through the city. Chaos erupted and soldiers opened fire killing two men and other injuries. The internment was precided over by J.W. Wolff who said a prayer in German, a translation of which is included in the text of the broadside.