Humiliated Collection (#5)

Hudibras Encounters the Skimmington (Plate 7: Illustrations to Samuel Butlers Hudibras), 1725-30 (?)

Hudibras in Tribulation (Twelve Large Illustrations for Saumel Butlers Hudibras, Plate 6), February 1725-26

Hudibras and the Skimmington (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butlers Hudibras, no. 9), 1721-26

Hudibras and Ralpho Made Prisoners and Carried to the Stocks (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butlers Hudibras, no. 6), 1721-26

Hudibras in Tribulation (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butlers Hudibras, no. 7), 1721-26

Laughter, January 21, 1800. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
Laughter, January 21, 1800

Laughter (Le Brun Travested, or Caricatures of the Passions), January 21, 1800

The Poet Virgil in a Basket, 1512. Creator: Lucas van Leyden
The Poet Virgil in a Basket, 1512

Christ Carrying the Cross. Creator: Jacques Bellange
Christ Carrying the Cross

Christ on the Way to Calvary, ca. 1560. Creator: Unknown
Christ on the Way to Calvary, ca. 1560. After Lambert Lombard

The Mocking of the Prisoners, ca. 1540. Creator: Giorgio Ghisi
The Mocking of the Prisoners, ca. 1540. After Giulio Romano

The Virgin of Sorrows: Christ Bearing the Cross; one of nine surrounding compartments from the Virgin of Sorrows, now separated, by 1575

Carrying the Cross. n. d. Creators: Claude Gillot, Jacques Gabriel Huquier
Carrying the Cross.n.d

A New Method of Maracrony Making as Practised at Boston in North America, ca. 1774

Christ Carrying the Cross, 1680-1719. Creator: Benoit Thiboust
Christ Carrying the Cross, 1680-1719. After Carlo Maratti

Christ Carrying the Cross, ca. 1552. Creator: Battista Franco Veneziano
Christ Carrying the Cross, ca. 1552

The Flagellation, with the Pavement, ca. 1475-80. Creator: Unknown
The Flagellation, with the Pavement, ca. 1475-80

Christ Crowned with Thorns, ca. 1500. Creator: Possibly Albrecht Dürer (German
Christ Crowned with Thorns, ca. 1500

Christ Crowned with Thorns, from The Small Passion, ca. 1509. Creator: Albrecht Durer
Christ Crowned with Thorns, from The Small Passion, ca. 1509

Christ Crowned with Thorns, from the Engraved Passion, 1512. Creator: Albrecht Durer
Christ Crowned with Thorns, from the Engraved Passion, 1512

The Mocking of Christ, from Speculum passionis domini nostri Ihesu Christi, 1507

Christ Stripped, from Speculum passionis domini nostri Ihesu Christi, 1507

Christ Crowned with Thorns, from Speculum passionis domini nostri Ihesu Christi, 1507

Le Tambourin, 1788-94. Creator: Charles-Melchior Descourtis
Le Tambourin, 1788-94

The Discredited Ascetic Being Paraded Through the Town on a Donkey... 18th century
The Discredited Ascetic Being Paraded Through the Town on a Donkey, Folio from a Kalila wa Dimna, 18th century

The Branded Bully, or the Ass Stripp d of the Lions Skin, 1786. 1786
The Branded Bully, or the Ass Stripp d of the Lions Skin, 1786

Schubert fled from the room, (1907). Creator: Unknown
Schubert fled from the room, (1907). In 1822, the young Schubert meets the celebrated composer Beethoven:a courteous but somewhat formal welcome was accorded them

William Tell in the Market-Place of Altdorf, 1890. Creator: Unknown
William Tell in the Market-Place of Altdorf, 1890. 14th century Swiss folk hero of who, according to legend, was an expert marksman who assassinated Albrecht Gessler

The Romans Passing Under the Yoke at the Caudine Forks, 1890. Creator: Unknown
The Romans Passing Under the Yoke at the Caudine Forks, 1890. From " Cassells Illustrated Universal History Vol. II - Rome", by Edmund Ollier

Brennus at Rome, 1890. Creator: Unknown
Brennus at Rome, 1890. From " Cassells Illustrated Universal History Vol. II - Rome", by Edmund Ollier. [Cassell and Company, Limited, London, Paris and Melbourne, 1890]

Titus Oates in the Pillory, 1685, (1890). Creator: Unknown
Titus Oates in the Pillory, 1685, (1890). Titus Oates (1649-1705) English perjurer who fabricated the " Popish Plot", a Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II

Capture of French Marshal Joachim Murat, Calabria, Italy, 1815 (c1890). Creator: Unknown
Capture of French Marshal Joachim Murat, Calabria, Italy, 1815 (c1890). From " Cassells History of England - Special Edition, Vol. V."

Lady Mary Bruce exposed, as a public spectacle at Roxburgh Castle, by order of Edward I, 1773
Lady Mary Bruce exposed, as a public spectacle at Roxburgh Castle, by order of Edward the first, 1773. Lady Mary Bruce [1282-1323] during the First War of Scottish Independence

Condamne Condamne Marchant Au Supplice, ( The Condemned Walking in Punishment), 1900
Condamne Marchant Au Supplice, ( The Condemned Walking in Punishment), 1900. From " Autour du Monde - Fascicule VI". [L. Boulanger, Paris, 1900]

Titus Oates in the Pillory, 1685, (1897). Creator: Unknown
Titus Oates in the Pillory, 1685, (1897). Oates (1649-1705), an Anglican priest, fabricated an imaginary popish plot against the government

Eleanor doing penance for witchcraft, 1441, (1789) Artist: Anker Smith
Eleanor doing penance for witchcraft, 1441, (1789). Eleanor Cobham (1400-1454), Duchess of Gloucester, was charged with unlawful commerce with Marjory Jourdemain, the Witch of Eye

Napoleons Departure from Fontainebleau, 20 April 1814, (c1850). Artists: Francois Pigeot
Napoleons Departure from Fontainebleau, 20 April 1814, (c1850). The defeat at the Battle of Leipzig and the subsequent invasion of France by the Allies culminated in Napoleons abdication on 11 April

The Westminster Deserter drum d out of the regiment, 1784. Artist
The Westminster Deserter drum d out of the regiment, 1784. Sir Cecil Wray being drummed away from the hustings in Covent Garden. Sam House is in the centre and Charles James Fox is on the right

Hudibras in the Stocks, 1850. Artist: Sir John Gilbert
Hudibras in the Stocks, 1850. A scene taken from the three-part mock-heroic satire Sir Hudibras by Samuel Butler. Sir Hudibras, a Presbyterian knight

A wife being sold at Smithfield Market, London, 1816. A woman stands with a rope round her neck, like an animal; Smithfield is a cattle market. A man - presumably her husband - holds the rope

Wife being sold at Smithfield Market, London, c1820. A rowdy scene at Smithfield cattle market with the wife for sale tied by a rope around her waist to a rail in the centre

Wife being sold at Smithfield Market, London. 1797. Text below

Petitioners before George III
A Hint to Ministers, or a Gracious Answer to Grievous Petitions, 1808. George III dismissing petitioners from the City of London opposed to the Convention of Cintra

King John signs the Great Charter, Runnymede, Surrey, 1215 (1864). John (1167-1216) became King of England in 1199. The Angevin kings of England, Henry II

The abdication of Napoleon and his departure from Fontainebleau for Elba, 20th April 1814. The defeat at the Battle of Leipzig

King Alfred burning the cakes, (c1900). Artist: Trelleek
King Alfred burning the cakes, c1900. Legend has it that Alfred (849-899), offered shelter from the Danes by a woman at Athelney in the Somerset marshes

The death of Sophonisba. Sophonisba, Carthaginian noblewoman who poisoned herself rather than be humiliated in a Roman triumph. From Cassells Illustrated Universal History, published 1883

The passum sub iugum or passing under the yoke was a practice in ancient Italy where defeated enemies were made to pass beneath a yoke constructed of spears to either humiliate them or to remove

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

"Humiliated: A Journey Through History's Tales of Shame and Mockery" Step into the past and witness moments of humiliation captured in art. From political submissions to artistic punishments, these images depict the vulnerability and degradation experienced by individuals throughout history. In 1077, Henry IV's submission at Canossa is immortalized in an unknown painting. The once powerful ruler humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII, a moment that forever stains his legacy. Queen Margaret places a paper crown on the Duke of York's head in a painting from the 18th century. This symbolic act reveals her triumph over him, leaving him feeling exposed and belittled. The German punishment known as the "Shame Flute" showcases how being a poor musician could lead to public humiliation. Those who failed to meet musical standards were forced to play this instrument while being mocked by their peers. Even great conquerors like Alexander the Great faced moments of humiliation. Though celebrated for his victories, he too experienced setbacks that left him questioning his own invincibility. General Methuen surrendering to de la Rey during the 2nd Boer War highlights another instance of personal defeat. As he relinquishes control, his pride is shattered under the weight of defeat. Religious narratives also capture instances of humiliation with profound impact. In scenes depicting Jesus' Passion, we witness Him stripped of His clothes - an act meant to degrade and expose His vulnerability. From Christ's crowning with thorns to His flagellation and mocking, artists have depicted these painful moments throughout centuries. Each stroke on canvas portrays not only physical suffering but also emotional torment inflicted upon Him. Lastly, Robert van Audenaerde's "Mocking of Christ" encapsulates both physical abuse and psychological torment endured by Jesus at human hands. These paintings serve as reminders that even divinity can be subjected to shame and ridicule. These captivating artworks remind us that humiliation has been woven into our shared history.