First Stage of Cruelty, William Hogarth, 1751

A london scene with young boys inflicting various forms of cruelty upon animals; in the centre, a boy (tom nero), identifiable by the badge on his shoulder as a pupil of st. Giles's parish school, thrusts an arrow into a dog's anus. 1751 etching and engraving. Date: 1751. Dimensions: Height: 378 mm; Width: 322 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. First Stage of Cruelty (BM S,2.123)