Arms for the Foundling Hospital 1781

William Hogarth created this print, Arms for the Foundling Hospital, in 1747. It presents the coat of arms for a charitable institution dedicated to caring for abandoned children in London. Hogarth was a governor of the Hospital, and he used his art to support its mission. The print depicts a symbolic representation of the Hospital’s values, with “Nature” and “Britannia” flanking a shield bearing a foundling child. Atop is a lamb. Below, a banner reads “HELP.” Hogarth’s design cleverly blends national identity with the hospital’s concern for vulnerable children. The Foundling Hospital was a product of the Enlightenment, and the image suggests a progressive view of the state’s responsibility for its youngest citizens. To understand this print fully, we can consult Hospital records, period newspapers, and Hogarth’s other works. These resources can reveal the social context that shaped both the institution and this piece. The visual language of the artwork is intertwined with the social and institutional history of its time.