Loopbaan van een Anglicaanse geestelijke 1791

Frederick George Byron created this print entitled ‘Loopbaan van een Anglicaanse geestelijke’ sometime between 1764 and 1792. In it, we see a satire of the typical career path within the Church of England. We can see how the artist creates meaning through visual codes. The figure in each scene is wearing recognizably clerical garb; he is the symbol of religious hypocrisy. He is seen in various states of self-importance: ogling women, hunting, drinking, and preaching. Byron is self-consciously progressive, critiquing the institution of the Church. The print speaks to the social structures of its own time. The 18th century saw a growing unease with the wealth and power of the Church. Prints like this became popular ways of expressing dissent. Researching periodicals from the time, sermons, and pamphlets would help us to understand the print’s subtleties better, allowing us to more fully appreciate its cultural context.