Engraving titled 'The Modern Orpheus', 'Etch'd by D Smith' and 'Design'd by W. Hogarth', 'From an Original Sketch in the possession of the Marquis of Bute', as part of a fake advertisement for a spoof book entitled 'The Art of Playing upon People'.

On one side of a piece of wove paper, roughly 400 x 250 mm. Dimensions of engraving roughly 130 x 180 mm. Good, on heavily-foxed and lightly-creased paper. The sketch shows a well-dressed flautist playing his instrument in a market square, with money, clothes and food drawn to him from onlookers as if by magnetism. Beneath the print, in a variety of types and point sizes: 'Speedily will be Published, Inscribed to all Lovers of Tweedledum Tweedle, The Art of Playing upon People: or, Memoirs of the German Flute. Interspersed with The Character of Baron Steeple; [...]'. At the foot of the page is a six-line parody of Congreve, beginning 'MUSICK hath charms to wheedle Guineas forth: | To draw, like Loadstone, Victuals, Drink, and Clothes; [...]'. Noticed by Austin Dobson in his 1891 monograph (p.314). Unobtrusive acquisition note, dated 1880, on reverse.