Tom Idle Collection

The Industrious Prentice Alderman of London, the Idle One Brought Before Him & Impeached by his Accomplice: Industry and Idleness, plate 10, September 30, 1747

The Idle Prentice at Play in the Churchyard: Industry and Idleness, plate 3, September 30, 1747

The Fellow Prentices at their Looms: Industry and Idleness, plate 1, September 30, 1747

The Idle Prentice Turned Away and Sent to Sea: Industry and Idleness, plate 5, September 30, 1747

The idle prentice turn d away and sent to sea, plate V of Industry and Idleness, 1747; the master is obliged to get rid of the idle prentice

The idle prentice at play in the church yard... plate III of Industry and Idleness 1747
The idle prentice at play in the church yard during divine service, plate III of Industry and Idleness, 1747; The idle apprentice plays hustle-cap with some pickpockets

The fellow prentices at their looms, plate I of Industry and Idleness, 1747; the scene is a Spitalfields silk-weaving shop, London

Sketch for Industry and Idleness - Plate X, 1747. Artist: William Hogarth
Sketch for Industry and Idleness - Plate X, 1747. The industrious prentice alderman of London, the idle one brought before him and impeach d by his accomplice, plate X of Industry and Idleness

Sketch for Industry and Idleness - Plate III, 1747. Artist: William Hogarth
Sketch for Industry and Idleness - Plate III, 1747. The idle prentice at play in the church yard during divine service. The idle apprentice plays hustle-cap with some pickpockets

Weaving at Spitalfields, London, 1747 (1894). From Hogarths Industry and Idleness series. An illustration from A Short History of the English People, by John Richard Green, illustrated edition

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"Tom Idle: A Tale of Industry and Idleness" In the world of 18th-century London, a series of engravings known as "Industry and Idleness" depicted the contrasting lives of two apprentices, Tom Idle and Francis Goodchild. These captivating illustrations captured the essence of their divergent paths, highlighting the consequences that awaited those who embraced idleness. Plate 11, titled "The Idle Prentice Executed at Tyburn, " showcased the grim fate that awaited Tom Idle. His lackadaisical attitude towards work led him down a treacherous path, ultimately leading to his demise on September 30th. However, not all was lost for our protagonist. In plate 5, "The Idle Prentice Turned Away and Sent to Sea, " we witness a glimmer of hope as Tom is given another chance at redemption. The sea becomes his new battleground for self-discovery and transformation. As time passed in plate VII's depiction from 1833's edition of "Industry and Idleness, " we see Tom returning from his seafaring adventures. However, he finds himself trapped in a garret with a common prostitute by his side - reminding us that old habits die hard. Yet amidst these trials and tribulations lies an underlying message - one can always find solace in industry. Plate 1 showcases fellow prentices diligently working at their looms while plate 3 reveals Tom engaging in idle play within churchyards - starkly contrasting images representing virtue versus vice. "The Idle Prentice Betrayed by His Whore" (plate IX) serves as a cautionary tale about choosing companions unwisely. It warns against being ensnared by temptation or falling prey to destructive influences that could lead one astray from the path of diligence. Through this journey chronicled across various plates throughout history, we are reminded that idleness breeds destruction while industry nurtures growth.