ABSTRACT
One of the most powerful, traditional and appealing aspects of apprenticeship was as the road to fame and wealth for a child of humble origins symbolized by Dick Whittington. In spite of the fairy-tale nature of his story, he typified the worthy apprentice’s success; he held high office, married his master’s daughter, endowed charities and died worth over £7,000. Three centuries later Hogarth was to repeat the essential elements of his story in the Industry and idleness series of engravings, contrasting the virtuous Frank Goodchild with the unworthy Tom Idle. Achieving a master’s status was important in any occupation for the apprentice who wished to progress beyond a journeyman’s wage and profit from the labour of others. There were four ways in which a male apprentice might become established as a master: by marriage, inheritance, purchase or setting up. Of these, the first two usually cost the young man nothing, but partnership or purchase of an existing business or setting up cost varying sums of money.
