William Hogarth.

The Bruiser, C.C. Churchill (once the Rev.d) in the character of a Russian Hercules, Regaling himself after having kill'd the monster Caricatura that so sorely gall'd his virtuous friend the Heaven born Wilkes.

11.5 x 15 inches

This is one of Hogarth's more intriguing and complicated prints. He produced it in response to a venomous, personal attack made by the Rev. Charles Churchill who was up in arms over the way Hogarth had treated John Wilkes (the radical English politician, writer and soldier), in a satirical and highly critical print from earlier that year. Wilkes had publicly attacked what he perceived to be Hogarth's anti middle class bias and openly criticised his character. In this image, Hogarth reworks his original self-portrait; Churchill is represented as a large, drunken bear whilst Hogarth's dog, Trump, urinates on Churchill's ''Epistle to William Hogarth''. In the Epistle, Churchill refers to the artist's technical and physical decline. The intention is clear; Hogarth is well and truly hacked off by the attitude of John Wilkes and Churchill's subsequent support of him. He is also fervently defending the caricaturist's right to print with impunity. Wilkes went on to criticise the king over his defence of The Peace of Paris, an action that resulted in his trial and temporary imprisonment, rapidly followed by his acquittal and release.