A withered tree bearing apples labelled with sins; representing the life of the base, 'natural' man. Etching, 1771, after J. Bakewell.

London (no. 69 in St Pauls Church Yard) : Carington Bowles, 1 January 1771.

1 print : etching ; platemark 35.2 x 24.8 cm

Hieroglyphicks of the natural man. Cut it down, why cumbreth it the ground. Luke XIII. ver. 7. J. Bakewell invt. Carington Bowles excudit ... At the base of the tree is written "Unbelief"; on the trunk, "Pride Selfwill". The tree divides into three main branches, 1. "Lust of the flesh", 2. "Pride of life" and 3. "Lust of the eye". Beginning from the bottom, each branch treated separately: 1: "Lascivious beliefs. Uncleanness. Evil desires. Indulgence. A wanton eye. Fornication. Idleness. Adultery. Drunkenness. Gluttony. Reveling. Incest. Sodomy. Beastiality." 2 [divided into two branches; left:]: "Self love. Vain glory. Love of honour. Love of praise. Highmindedness. Unkindness. Surmising. Prejudice. Judging. Swearing. Despitefulness. Blasphemy. Wrath. Backbiting. Anger. Strife. Hated. Evil speaking. Lying. Slandering. Murder. [Second branch:] Blindness of heart. Unprofitable conversation. Foolish jesting. Boasting. Resisting the truth. Scoffing at religion. Despising good men. Cursing. Sabath breaking. Disbelieving the word. Denying the Lord. Arianism. Socinianism. Antinomianism. Heresy and schism. Disobedient to parents. Deism. Rebellion. Despair. Atheism. Presumption.". 3: "Love of pleasure. Love of the world. Discontent. Lightness of spirit. Love of money. Envy. Discontent. Murmuring. Mistrust. Unmercifulness. Unthankfulness. Theft. Deceit. Oppression. Extortion. Sacrilege. Witchcraft." In the lightning above: "Wrath".

Compare with the lithograph by Currier & Ives published c. 1870 (Wellcome Library no. 26799i). The design is the same, but the sins have greatly changed

Wellcome Collection 26769i