The Company of Undertakers - Richard Purcell

A satirical mezzotint by Richard Purcell depicting a group of grotesque, wig-wearing physicians in a biting critique of eighteenth-century medical practice.

The Company of Undertakers is a satirical mezzotint by Richard Purcell, based on an original design by William Hogarth. The print depicts a group of twelve men, all wearing the heavy, powdered periwigs characteristic of the mid-eighteenth century. These figures are arranged in a dense, somewhat chaotic composition, with three men peering over a crenellated wall at the top, while the remaining nine occupy the space below. Each individual holds a medical instrument or a cane, suggesting their professional status as physicians or apothecaries.

The imagery relies on grotesque exaggeration to mock the medical profession of the era. The faces are rendered with heavy, distorted features, conveying a sense of incompetence or greed. The title itself is a double entendre, referring both to the funeral trade and to the doctors whose perceived negligence leads their patients to the grave. Purcell, an Irish engraver who worked extensively in London, was known for his ability to translate the biting social commentary of his contemporaries into the rich, tonal medium of mezzotint.

This print captures the cynical humour prevalent in Georgian London, where the public often viewed the medical establishment with deep suspicion. The dark, velvety blacks and soft gradations of grey, typical of the mezzotint process, contribute to the sombre yet absurd atmosphere of the scene. The figures are tightly packed, creating a sense of claustrophobia that mirrors the grim subject matter. By focusing on the physical oddities of the subjects, the artist directs the viewer to consider the moral failings of the characters. This work remains a clear example of the period's penchant for visual satire, providing a glimpse into the social anxieties of the eighteenth century without the need for complex allegory.