The First Stage of Cruelty  1751

Medium: [br]Etching and engraving This is the first of a series of four plates by William Hogarth known together as The Four Stages of Cruelty. In this scene we see the fictional Tom Nero begin his descent into cruelty and damnation. In the centre of the scene, Nero tortures a dog; the other boys pictured engage in similarly horrible acts, except for one, who pleads wit...