Cruelty in perfection, from the series The four stages of cruelty

Hogarth designed this set of prints with a reforming purpose in mind. In his 'Autobiographical notes' he describes his intention: "'The four stages of cruelty' were done in hopes of preventing in some degree that cruel treatment of poor Animals which makes the streets of London more disagreeable to the human mind, than anything what ever, the very describing of which gives pain." The series relates the career of Tom Nero, a child of the slums, who begins by torturing dogs, progresses to beating horses in the street then, as a grown up, murders his pregnant lover, Ann Gill. Finally, Nero is dissected in an anatomy theatre as an executed criminal, a noose still around his neck.

'Cruelty in perfection' shows a churchyard at night, where Tom Nero has been arrested for murder as the body of his lover Ann Gill lies on the ground, her throat slit, amid a bundle of plate she stole from mistress at Nero's request.