In this History of Prints (HoP) episode, Tru and I finish talking about the life and work of William Hogarth, the father of Western sequential art. We look at and pick apart three series: Industry and Idleness, The Four Stages of Cruelty, and Humours of an Election. Timely, no? Hogarth continues to point out society’s faults and baser instincts. He never stopped trying to teach the masses about comportment and judgment.
Episode image: William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Gin Lane, 1751. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 1/16 x 12 1/2 in. (38.3 x 31.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Useful Links
Harlot’s Progress video from Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. https://youtu.be/VPQze0EbpdQ
Harlot’s Progress video from Reading the Past. https://youtu.be/u1rtBD0qvPY?si=DkVatOJ5-vEyrIqF
Beer Street and Gin Lane from Reading the Past. https://youtu.be/A3-Je-lSKrE?si=C9igJSDSvYVyRabY
After Allan Ramsay (British, 1713–1784). Portrait of William Hunter, 1760. Engraving. Wellcome Collection.
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (French, 1699–1779). Saying Grace, c. 1740. Oil on canvas. 49.5 x 38.5 cm. (19 ½ x 15 ¼ in.). Musée du Louvre. Paris.
Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, 1725–1805). The Village Bride, 1761. Oil on canvas. 92 x 117 cm. (36 x 46 in.). Musée du Louvre. Paris.
Inigo Jones (British, 1573–1652). Banqueting House, 1622. London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The South Sea Scheme, 1722. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 ¼ x 12 15/16 in. (26.1 x 32.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot’s Progress, 1732 or before. Series of 6 etchings with engraving. Sheet (each): 12 5/16 x 15 1/8 in. (31.3 x 38.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake’s Progress, 1735. Series of 8 paintings. Sir John Soane’s Museum, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake’s Progress, 1735. Series of 8 etchings with engraving. Sheet (each): 13 7/8 x 15 7/8 in. (35.2 x 40.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode, c. 1743. Series of 6 paintings. Each: 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.
After William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode, 1745. Series of 6 etchings with engraving. Plate (each): 15 1/4 x 18 1/2 in. (38.7 x 47 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Mr. Garrick in the Character of Richard III, 1746. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 16 3/8 x 20 1/2 in. (41.6 x 52 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743. S curves from The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Plate I from The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Plate II from The Analysis of Beauty, written with a view to fixing the fluctuating ideas of taste. London: J. Reeves, 1743.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Fellow ‘Prentices at their Looms, plate 1 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 3/8 x 13 7/16 in. (26.4 x 34.2 cm.); sheet: 10 5/8 x 14 in. (27 x 35.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice Performing the Duty of a Christian, plate 2 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 3/8 x 13 3/4 in. (26.4 x 34.9 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Idle ‘Prentices at Play in the Churchyard, plate 3 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 1/4 x 13 9/16 in. (26 x 34.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice a Favourite and Entrusted by his Master, plate 4 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 3/8 x 13 1/2 in. (26.3 x 34.3 cm.); sheet: 10 11/16 x 13 7/8 in. (27.1 x 35.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Idle ‘Prentice Turned Away and Sent to Sea, plate 5 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 3/8 x 13 11/16 in. (26.4 x 34.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice Out of his Time and Married to his Master’s Daughter, plate 6 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 3/8 x 13 9/16 in. (26.4 x 34.4 cm.); sheet: 10 9/16 x 13 7/8 in. (26.8 x 35.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Idle ‘Prentice Returned from Sea and in a Garret with a Common Prostitute, plate 7 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 5/16 x 13 5/8 in. (26.2 x 34.6 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice Grown Rich and Sheriff of London, plate 8 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 1/4 x 13 1/2 in. (26 x 34.3 cm.); sheet: 10 3/8 x 13 3/4 in. (26.3 x 35 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Idle ‘Prentice Betrayed by his Whore and Taken in a Night Cellar with his Accomplices, plate 9 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Plate: 10 5/16 x 13 9/16 in. (26.2 x 34.4 cm.); sheet: 10 9/16 x 13 3/4 in. (26.9 x 35 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice Alderman of London, The Idle One Brought Before Him and Impeached by his Accomplices, plate 10 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 3/16 x 13 11/16 in. (25.8 x 34.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Idle ‘Prentice Executed at Tyburn, plate 11 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 3/8 x 15 3/4 in. (26.4 x 40 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Industrious ‘Prentice Lord Mayor of London, plate 12 from the series Industry and Idleness, 1747. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 10 9/16 x 15 13/16 in. (26.9 x 40.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Gin Lane, 1751. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 1/16 x 12 1/2 in. (38.3 x 31.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Beer Street, 1751. Engraving. Sheet: 15 1/8 x 12 11/16 in. (38.4 x 32.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The First Stage of Cruelty, 1751. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 14 3/4 x 12 1/2 in. (37.5 x 31.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Second Stage of Cruelty, 1751. Etching and engraving. Plate: 15 1/4 x 12 9/16 in. (38.8 x 31.9 cm.); sheet: 16 1/16 x 13 1/4 in. (40.8 x 33.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Cruelty in Perfection, 1751. Etching and engraving. Plate: 15 1/4 x 12 11/16 in. (38.8 x 32.2 cm.); sheet: 15 13/16 x 13 3/16 in. (40.2 x 33.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Reward of Cruelty, 1751. Etching and engraving. Plate: 15 1/4 x 12 5/8 in. (38.8 x 32 cm.); sheet: 15 3/4 x 13 1/16 in. (40 x 33.2 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election I: An Election Entertainment, 1754–55. Oil on canvas. 101 x 128 cm. Sir John Soane’s Museum, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election II: Canvassing for Votes, 1754–55. Oil on canvas. 102.3 x 131.4 cm. Sir John Soane’s Museum, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election III: The Polling, 1754–55. Oil on canvas. 102.2 x 131.1 cm. Sir John Soane’s Museum, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election IV: Chairing the Member, 1754–55. Oil on canvas. 103 x 131.8 cm. Sir John Soane’s Museum, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election I: An Election Entertainment, 1755. Engraving. 40.5 x 54 cm. Royal Academy of Arts, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election II: Canvassing for Votes, 1755. Engraving. 40.5 x 54 cm. Royal Academy of Arts, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election III: The Polling, 1755. Engraving. 40.5 x 54 cm. Royal Academy of Arts, London.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Humours of an Election IV: Chairing the Member, 1755. Engraving. 40.5 x 54 cm. Royal Academy of Arts, London.
George Caleb Bingham (American, 1811–1879). The Verdict of the People, 1854–55. Oil on canvas. 46 x 55 in. (116.8 x 139.7 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.
George Caleb Bingham (American, 1811–1879). Stump Speaking, 1853–54. Oil on canvas. 42 1/2 x 58 in. (108 x 147.3 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.
George Caleb Bingham (American, 1811–1879). The County Election, 1852. Oil on canvas. 38 x 52 in. (96.5 x 132.1 cm.). Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis.
William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Tailpiece, or the Bathos, 1764. Engraving. 261 x 323 mm. Royal Academy of Arts, London.
