Moral Tale Collection

The Tortoise and the Hare, Edo Period (1600-1868) (silk embroidery) (detail)
XBP236455 The Tortoise and the Hare, Edo Period (1600-1868) (silk embroidery) (detail) by Japanese School; Private Collection; Photo eBoltin Picture Library; Japanese, out of copyright

Second stage of Cruelty, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth
STC451169 Second stage of Cruelty, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

The Reward of Cruelty, from The Four Stages of Cruelty, illustration from Hogarth Restored
STC451184 The Reward of Cruelty, from The Four Stages of Cruelty, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

The Blind man and the paralytic, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190865 The Blind man and the paralytic, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection

The Warbler and the nightingale, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190862 The Warbler and the nightingale, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Squirrel, the dog and the fox, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190860 The Squirrel, the dog and the fox, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: L Ecureuil)

Illustration for The Wolf and the Lamb, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190864 Illustration for The Wolf and the Lamb, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection

The Girl, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (engraving, 19th century)
PER190895 The Girl, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (engraving, 19th century) by Huyot, Jules (1841-1921); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for The Girl)

The Ox, the horse and the donkey, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190861 The Ox, the horse and the donkey, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Boeuf)

The Lion and the Leopard, from Fables by jean Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-94) (colour engraving)
PER190859 The Lion and the Leopard, from Fables by jean Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-94) (colour engraving) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Lion et le leopard; )

The Frog Who Would Grow as Big as the Ox, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190858 The Frog Who Would Grow as Big as the Ox, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Rabier

The Dog Who Drops His Prey for its Reflection, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190863 The Dog Who Drops His Prey for its Reflection, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Rabier

Illustration for The Fox and the Stork, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190876 Illustration for The Fox and the Stork, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Noble

Illustration for The Dog and the Cow, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving)
PER190877 Illustration for The Dog and the Cow, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Noble, John Edwin (1876-1941); Private Collection; (add.info)

Fables de de las Fountaine titlepage, 1838 (engraving)
3471725 Fables de de las Fountaine titlepage, 1838 (engraving) by Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard) (1803-47); Private Collection; (add.info.: Engraved by Sears for Imprimerie de Fournier)

The Monkey and the Cat, 1868 (engraving)
PER465716 The Monkey and the Cat, 1868 (engraving) by Dore, Gustave (1832-83); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Singe et le Chat; Jean de la Fontaine (1621-95)); French, out of copyright

Marriage a la Mode, Plate IV, The Toilette, illustration from Hogarth Restored
STC451154 Marriage a la Mode, Plate IV, The Toilette, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

Marriage a la Mode, Plate II, The Tete a Tete, illustration from Hogarth Restored
STC451152 Marriage a la Mode, Plate II, The Tete a Tete, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

Married to an Old Maid, plate V from A Rakes Progress
STC451148 Married to an Old Maid, plate V from A Rakes Progress, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

The Swallow and the Birds, illustration from Fables by La Fontaine
PER437858 The Swallow and the Birds, illustration from Fables by La Fontaine, 1868 (engraving) by Dore, Gustave (1832-83); Private Collection; (add.info)

A Father and his Sons, illustration from Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century
489727 A Father and his Sons, illustration from Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century by John Ashton, pub. 1882 (litho) by English School

The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard During Divine Service
GHL205228 The Idle Prentice at Play in the Church Yard During Divine Service, plate III of Industry and Idleness, published 1833 (engraving) by Hogarth

Title page for Fables by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-94) from
CHT163766 Title page for Fables by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-94) from Le Miroir de la Verite (engraving) (b/w photo) by Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard) (1803-47)

Illustration for The Old Woman and the Two Servants, from Fables
PER190897 Illustration for The Old Woman and the Two Servants, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (engraving) by Dore

The Young Cockerel, the Cat and the Young Mouse, from Fables
PER190883 The Young Cockerel, the Cat and the Young Mouse, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) 1888 (colour engraving) by Gelibert

The Ears of the Hare, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95
PER190881 The Ears of the Hare, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Gelibert, Gaston (1850-1931); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

The Industrious Prentice Alderman of London, the Idle one Impeach
GHL205235 The Industrious Prentice Alderman of London, the Idle one Impeach d Before Him by his Accomplice, plate X of Industry and Idleness, published 1833 (engraving) by Hogarth

The Industrious Prentice Performing the Duty of a Christian
GHL205227 The Industrious Prentice Performing the Duty of a Christian, plate II of Industry and Idleness, published 1833 (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); London Metropolitan Archives

The Wolf and the Lamb, illustration from Fables by La Fontaine
PER437848 The Wolf and the Lamb, illustration from Fables by La Fontaine. 1868 (colour litho) by Dore, Gustave (1832-83) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

A Rakes Progress I: The Rake Taking Possession of his Estate, 1733 (oil on canvas)
SJS72326 A Rakes Progress I: The Rake Taking Possession of his Estate, 1733 (oil on canvas) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); 62.2x75 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum

The trees and the axe, from Aesops Fables, c
FIT282867 The trees and the axe, from Aesops Fables, c.1912 (pen & ink with w/c on paper) by Rackham, Arthur (1867-1939); 31.2x26.8 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

The Wolf and the Lamb, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95
PER207620 The Wolf and the Lamb, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Fraipont, Georges (1873-1912); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Illustration for The Old Man and the Three Young Men, from Fables
PER190894 Illustration for The Old Man and the Three Young Men, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (engraving) by Dore

The Donkey and the Little Dog, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95)
PER190890 The Donkey and the Little Dog, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95), advertising for Au Bon Marche department store (colour litho) by Leloir

The Fellow Prentices at their Looms, plate I of Industry and Idleness
STC451133 The Fellow Prentices at their Looms, plate I of Industry and Idleness, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook

The Dog and the Wolf, from Fables Choisies de la Fontaine
CHT231159 The Dog and the Wolf, from Fables Choisies de la Fontaine by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95), published by Librairies-Imprimeries Reunies (colour engraving) by Fraipont

The Wolf and the Lamb, illustration from Fables
CHT242732 The Wolf and the Lamb, illustration from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) 1868 (engraving) (b/w photo) by Dore

The Miracle of Miracles, illustration from Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century
489594 The Miracle of Miracles, illustration from Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century by John Ashton, pub. 1882 (litho) by English School

Illustration for The Cobbler and the Financier, from Fables
PER190899 Illustration for The Cobbler and the Financier, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (engraving) by Dore

Illustration for The Hen with the Golden Eggs, from Fables
PER190898 Illustration for The Hen with the Golden Eggs, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (engraving) by Dore

The Crow and the Fox, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95
PER190882 The Crow and the Fox, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) (colour engraving) by Gelibert, Gaston (1850-1931); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Corbeau et le Renard; ); French

Illustration for Death and the Woodcutter, from Fables
PER190892 Illustration for Death and the Woodcutter, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) engraved by Jonnard (engraving) by Dore

The Frog and the Ox, illustration for Fables of La Fontaine (1621-95)
CHT164341 The Frog and the Ox, illustration for Fables of La Fontaine (1621-95), published by H. Fournier Aine, 1838 (engraving) (b/w photo) by Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard) (1803-47)

The Rake in Prison, plate VII, from A Rakes Progress
STC451231 The Rake in Prison, plate VII, from A Rakes Progress, illustration from Hogarth Restored: The Whole Works of the celebrated William Hogarth, re-engraved by Thomas Cook, pub

The Industrious Prentice Alderman of London, the Idle one Impeach
STC451139 The Industrious Prentice Alderman of London, the Idle one Impeach d Before Him by his Accomplice, plate X of Industry and Idleness

Whims and Oddities (engraving)
1626244 Whims and Oddities (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Whims and Oddities, War, a Moral Tale in Six Tableaux)

The Tortoise and The Two Ducks, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95
PER207621 The Tortoise and The Two Ducks, from Fables by Jean de La Fontaine (1621-95) 1888 (colour engraving) by Gelibert

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In the captivating world of moral tales depicted through engravings, woodcuts, and oil paintings by renowned artist William Hogarth, a powerful narrative unfolds. These thought-provoking artworks delve into the depths of human behavior, exposing the consequences of vice and immorality. One such tale is "The Idle Prentice Betrayed by his Whore and Taken in a Night Cellar with his Accomplice. " Through this engraving from 1747, we witness the downfall of an idle apprentice who falls prey to temptation. It serves as a stark reminder that idleness can lead one astray if not accompanied by diligence and purpose. Another striking piece is "The Rape of Lucrecia, " depicted in a haunting woodcut. This tragic story highlights the devastating consequences of unchecked lust and cruelty. It stands as a cautionary tale against violating others' dignity for personal gain or pleasure. Moving forward to 1751, we encounter "Cruelty in Perfection, " an engraving that portrays the ultimate manifestation of heartlessness. This chilling image forces us to confront our capacity for cruelty when empathy is absent from our actions. Hogarth's masterful series titled "Industry and Idleness" further explores these themes. In plate XI, aptly named "The Idle Prentice Executed at Tyburn, " we witness justice being served upon those who choose indolence over hard work. The message conveyed here is clear: laziness leads only to ruin. Contrasting this fate is seen in another engraving from 1751 called "The Reward of Cruelty. " As its title suggests, it depicts how acts born out of malice ultimately result in their own punishment—a sobering reminder that kindness should always prevail over cruelty. Through these various works—whether etchings or hand-colored engravings—we are transported back centuries ago but find their messages still resonate today.