A Midnight Modern Conversation

Date1733-1738

After work by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764)

Publisher John Bowles (1701 - 1779)

OriginEngland, London

MediumEngraving and etching on laid paper

Dimensionsplate: 34 1/4x21" framed. Printed on two pieces of paper which are joined down the middle

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1962-293

DescriptionLower margin reads: "We can be dull, when to his eyes, / Such various scenes of Humour rise, / Now wee behold in what write, / The Priest, the Beau, the Cit, the Bite; / Where Law and Physick joyn the Sword, / And Justice deigns to crown the board. / How Midnight Modern Conversations/ Mingles all Faculties and Stations. / Full to the Sight and next the Bowl, / Sits the Physician of the Soul, / No loftier themes his Thought persues,/ Than Pinch, Tobacco, Wine and Dues;/ Easy and careless what may fall./ He hears, consents, and fills to all./ Proving it plainly by his Face/ That Cassocks are no signs of Grace/ Next him wound up to the full height, / A Son of Bacchus still maintains the fight; / The brave surviving Priest assails/ And loudly damns the first that fails./ You hardly can forbear to say, / You hear him cry the Church Huzza./ The PArson simpers at the Toast,/ And puts it forward to the rest./ The Barrister (see in his look / United Littleton and Coke,)/ With sapient Face and Wig awry,/ Sneers while his Client standing by/ With maudlin eyes, and ruefull face/ And frequent Hickups -- tells his case./ How dull his Trad, how many flies/ How Credit Sinks, and Taxes rise./ The Justice next with solmn Phiz, / Upon his Elbow poiz'd at eas, / For ever mindfull of his Station/ Smoaks, Drinks, and Talks --- or Reformation./ Sits leering in his night-cap yonder,/ And Swears he'll make them all knock under./ The PArson stares, and seems to think Sir/ You'll find that you mistake your man Sir./ The puny Fop, mankinds disgrace/ The Ladies Jest and Dressing-glass;/ Who meets us with a motely scene/ Of Snuff-box, Powder-bag and Cane;/ This He-She-Thing, the mode persues,/ And drinks in order -- till he spues. Snoring wiht open mouth, see where/ Sits Indolence insensible of Care. / On t'other side the Polititian, / Is almost in the same Condition,/ Alas! that Punch should have the Fate,/ To drown the Pilot of the State, / Lock up his senses, close his eyes./ Heedless of Brib'ry or th' Excise./ The Captain who was in the Field/ A Victor, -- now is forc'd to yield/ Vanquish'd by Wine he sprawling lies; / The Doctor too with half shut eyes/ Reels backward, and in faultring strain,/ Sets forth the Power of rich Champign,/ Mean while his hands by fortune led,/ Applies it to the Captains head./ Th' expiring Snuffs, the Bottles broke, / And the full Bowl at four O'Clock./ THE MIDNIGHT MODERN/ CONVERSATION. / W. Hogarth/ Invent.t.et Pinxit./ Printed and Sold byJohn bowles at the Black Horse ye Cornhill."
Label TextThis is an early piracy of William Hogarth's print "A Midnight Modern Conversation" which is much enlarged from the original and printed on two sheets of paper by John Bowles. Though Hogarth worked actively to prevent others from pirating his work, these unauthorized copies helped to popularize his work for wider audiences.