Smart Pig Art

I discovered some smart pig art while looking for sources of free images recently. This pig is not just smart — he’s positively precocious. These colorful pig illustrations are from an old children’s book entitled ‘Precocious Piggy’ by Thomas Hood (1799-1845). The handsomely attired pigs were drawn by Tom Hood (1835-1874) – the author’s son. The full title of the book is: ‘The Headlong Career and Woeful Ending of Precocious Piggy‘.

Smart Pig Art - Piggy's coat has big buttons
Piggy visits the fair.
The pig brushes his hair
Smart Pig Art - Precocious Piggy walks to town while smoking a cigar.
Piggy has too much to drink at the saloon.
Piggy is dressed like a king and visits the hair dresser to purchase a wig.
Smart Pig Art - Precocious Piggy wearing a black tuxedo.
Piggy tries landscape gardening - puts his spade in the ground.
The terrified pig is not so smart after all. His life ends with a visit to the butcher.

Smart Pig Art Rediscovered

These color prints are a rare find in a book from the 1840’s. I found them in the public domain image collection of the British Library. The University of Florida provides a digital copy of the 3rd edition you can view online.

Partial Text of the ‘Precocious Piggy’ Poem

Where are you going to, you little pig?

“I’m leaving my mother, I’m growing so big!”

So big, you young pig. So young, so big!
What! leaving your mother, you foolish young pig?

Where are you going to, you little pig?

“I’ve got a new spade, and I’m going to dig!”

To dig, little pig! A little pig dig!
Well, I never saw a pig with a spade, that could dig!

Where are you going to, you little pig?

“Why I’m going to have a nice ride in a gig!”

In a gig, little pig! What! a pig in a gig!
Well, I never yet saw a pig ride in a gig!

Where are you going, you little pig?

“I’m going to the barber’s to buy me a wig.”

A wig, little pig! A pig in a wig!
Why, whoever before saw a pig in a wig?

Where are you going, you little pig?

“I’m going to the ball to dance a fine jig!”

A jig, little pig! A pig dance a jig!
Well, I never before saw a pig dance a jig!


Endnotes

The Headlong Career and Woeful Ending of Precocious Piggy – 3rd edition; in the University of Florida Digital Collections

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