Created on 2024-01-26

This image depicts a busy urban street scene with various acts of cruelty towards animals being carried out. It is an etching with the title "SECOND STAGE OF CRUELTY" inscribed at the top. In the foreground, a man is aggressively beating a fallen horse trying to get the overloaded animal to stand. To the right, there's another man with a whip driving overloaded cattle. Behind him, a group of sheep are being mercilessly herded with one of the sheep collapsed on the ground. On the left, there is a cart with two men in it, and it appears that the cart is being pulled by cattle. There are several onlookers in the scene showing varying degrees of concern or indifference to the cruelty on display. The buildings in the background have signs, one of which reads "Tyburn," referring to the place of execution in London, implying a connection between cruelty to animals and criminal behavior. The bottom of the image has a verse written by William Hogarth, the artist, which reads: "The generous Steed in hoary Age, Subdu’d by Labour lies; And mourns a cruel Master's rage, While Nature strength denies. The tender Lamb o’re drove and faint, Amidst expiring Throws; Bleats forth it's innocent complaint And dies beneath the Blows. Inhuman Wretch! Say whence proceeds This coward Cruelty? What Int’rest springs from barb’rous deeds? What Joy from Misery?" This etching is designed by W. Hogarth, engraved by T. Cook, and appears to carry a moral message against the mistreatment of animals.

Created on 2024-03-30

The image depicts a chaotic, crowded urban street scene with various people and activities. It appears to be an engraved illustration titled "Second Stage of Cruelty" that shows a bustling city thoroughfare filled with a variety of figures, including men, women, and children, engaged in different actions. The scene conveys a sense of disorder and unrest, though the specific narrative or context is not entirely clear from the image alone.