The hungry mob of scribblers and etchers, William Hogarth, 1762

Satire on lord bute's attempts to enlist satirists on his side: bute descends a staircase tossing coins down to a crowd of writers and printmakers including william austin holding a scroll lettered "etching in genl by w a", william hogarth holding a large burin under his arm, matthew darly holding an impression of "the screen" (i. E. , bm satire 3825), charles churchill in clerical dress rasing his hat to bute, and samuel johnson holding a scroll marked "300£ pr ann"; stephens identifies the man on the steps holding out his hat as the political writer, john shebbeare. 1762 etching. Date: 1762. Dimensions: Height: 308 mm; Width: 202 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute. Collection: British Museum. The hungry mob of scribblers and etchers (BM 1868,0808.4185)