William Hogarth, Industry and Idleness

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The twelve prints entitled

Industry and Idleness

grew out of Hogarth's philanthropic concern for poor and abandoned children. He became a Governor of The Foundling Hospital for babies under two years old, when it was first established, by royal charter, in 1739. The babies were to be put out to a wet nurse, till they were three to five years old, when they would be brought back to London. They would then be taught to read, while the boys would be given training for apprenticeship, or the navy, and the girls for service. The hospital took in its first infants in March 1741. Hogarth continued to play an active role as a Governor, later designing uniforms for the children and a coat of arms for the hospital. Early on in the foundation of the hospital, he donated his famous, full-length…

4138 words

Citation: Gordon, Ian. "Industry and Idleness". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 June 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4450, accessed 19 March 2024.]

4450 Industry and Idleness 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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