The Cully Flaug’d

possibly John Smith (1652–1743), after Marcellus Laroon I (1653–1702), mezzotint, c. 1680–1700

A book published in England in 1680 mentioned for the first time a practice called ‘flogging’, intended ‘to pleasure Old Fumblers’ – that is to say, impotent elderly men. With an evident sense for satire, highlighted by the humorous poem, the print depicts the tiresome task of this girl, her genitals exposed, whipping an old gentleman’s posterior to conjure up his ‘Devil’.

  • Object numberRP-P-OB-102.138
  • Dimensions248 mm x 197 mm
  • Physical characteristicsmezzotint