The Frontispiece and Its Explanation (Plate 1: Illustrations to Samuel Butler's Hudibras) 1725 - 1730

This 1725-1730 engraving by William Hogarth, titled *The Frontispiece and Its Explanation (Plate 1: Illustrations to Samuel Butler's Hudibras)*, is a satirical commentary on the 17th-century English poet Samuel Butler and his work *Hudibras*. Hogarth’s detailed design depicts Butler as the central figure, surrounded by allegorical representations of his poetry’s themes, including satire, rebellion, hypocrisy, and ignorance. A pedestal holding a miniature cart pulled by a dragon and a sphinx references the poem’s hero, Hudibras, and a woman on the right, holding a shield and a portrait of the poet, personifies Britannia. Hogarth's use of complex symbolism and satirical humor is characteristic of his work and reflects his engagement with contemporary social and political issues.