William Hogarth (1697-1764)
Industry and Idleness III: The Idle ’Prentice at Play in the Church Yard, during Divine Service (October 1747)
[First state] Etching and engraving on copper; printed on laid paper
Idle is shown gambling away his earnings in a graveyard of a Church with villainous looking companions. He is cheating in a game of pitch and hustle by hiding coins under his hat and the ragged bootblack on the right appears to be reaching for a weapon. Behind Tom a beadle brings down his cane on Tom’s back in a vain attempt to reform him.
Industry & Idleness 
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