The Idle ’Prentice at Play in the Churchyard during Divine Service

William Hogarth, 1747

This is a drawing of an apprentice playing in a churchyard during divine service. The scene shows individuals engaged in a dice game on a tomb, with one figure emerging from a church-like entrance in the background. The environment includes gothic elements like skulls and bones. An authoritative figure in period attire stands nearby with a stick. The composition is detailed with fine line work, typical of engraving techniques, and includes architectural elements like walls and columns.
Artist
William Hogarth
Date
1747
Type
Print
Medium
etching and engraving
Dimensions
26.2 × 34.8 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

This is a drawing of an apprentice playing in a churchyard during divine service. The scene shows individuals engaged in a dice game on a tomb, with one figure emerging from a church-like entrance in the background. The environment includes gothic elements like skulls and bones. An authoritative figure in period attire stands nearby with a stick. The composition is detailed with fine line work, typical of engraving techniques, and includes architectural elements like walls and columns.

William Hogarth