In this History of Western Prints (HoP) episode, Tru and I begin to explore the life and work of William Hogarth, the first British artist featured on Platemark's HoP series. Hogarth, renowned as the father of Western sequential art, is discussed through detailed analyses of three of his best known series: A Harlot's Progress, A Rake's Progress, and Marriage A-la-Mode. The episode delves into 18th-century London's morality, capturing the societal and artistic context of Hogarth's work. Highlights include discussions on the intricacies of Hogarth's prints, his depiction of social issues, the impact of his work on English law (copyright laws finally established!), and his mixed successes in various art forms. This first of two episodes on Hogarth sets the stage for part two when we look at his images around elections in Enlightenment England.

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 video from Reading the Past. https://youtu.be/A3-Je-lSKrE?si=C9igJSDSvYVyRabY

Platemark website

Sign-up for Platemark emails

Leave a 5-star review

Support the show

Get your Platemark merch

Check out Platemark on Instagram

Join our Platemark group on Facebook

After Anton von Maron (Austrian, 1733–1808). Johann Winkelmann, after 1768. Engraving.

After Allan Ramsay (British, 1713–1784). Portrait of William Hunter, 1760. Engraving. Wellcome Collection.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). The Painter and his Pug, 1745. Oil on canvas. 35.4 x 27.5 cm. Tate Britain, London.

Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (French, 1699–1779). Saying Grace, c. 1740. Oil on canvas. 49.5 × 38.5 cm. (19.5 in × 15.2 in.). Louvre, Paris.

Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, 1725–1805). The Village Bride, 1761. Oil on canvas. 92 x 117 cm. Louvre, Paris.

The Banqueting House, London.

Saint Paul's Church, London.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Self-Portrait, c. 1735. Oil on canvas. 21 1/2 x 20 in. (54.6 x 50.8 cm.). Yale Center for British Art, New Haven.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). An Emblematic Print on the South Sea, late 18th century. Engraving and Etching. Plate: 10 13/16 x 13 3/8 in. (27.4 x 33.9 cm.); sheet: 11 5/16 x 14 in. (28.7 x 35.6 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot's Progress, Plate 1, 1732 or before. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 12 5/16 x 15 1/8 in. (31.3 x 38.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Chart identifying elements in Harlot's Progress Plate 1.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot's Progress, Plate 2, 1732 or before. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 12 3/8 x 14 13/16 in. (31.4 x 37.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot's Progress, Plate 3, 1732 or before. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 12 11/16 x 15 3/8 in. (32.2 x 39 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot's Progress, Plate 4, 1732 or before. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 13 1/8 x 15 3/16 in. (33.3 x 40.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot's Progress, Plate 5, 1732 or before. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 13 3/8 x 16 3/16 in. (34 x 41.1 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Harlot's Progress, Plate 6, 1732 or before. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 12 1/2 x 15 3/16 in. (31.7 x 38.6 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, Plate 1, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 13/16 x 19 1/16 in. (40.2 x 48.4 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Gérard Jean-Baptiste Scotin (French, Paris 1698–after 1755), after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, Plate 2, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 14 3/16 x 16 1/4 in. (36 x 41.3 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, Plate 3, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 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). A Rake's Progress, Plate 4, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 14 3/16 x 16 1/4 in. (36.1 x 41.3 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, Plate 5, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 5/8 x 18 13/16 in. (39.7 x 47.8 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, Plate 6, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 14 x 16 in. (35.5 x 40.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, Plate 7, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 5/8 x 18 3/4 in. (39.7 x 47.7 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, Plate 8, 1735. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 9/16 x 18 13/16 in. (39.6 x 47.8 cm). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). A Rake's Progress, 1735. Eight oil on canvas paintings. Sir John Soane's Museum, London.

Louis-François Roubiliac (French, 1702–1762). William Hogarth, c. 1741. Terracotta bust. Overall: 28 1/2 x 17 3/4 in. (72.4 x 45.2 cm.). National Portrait Gallery, London.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: 1, The Marriage Settlement, c. 1743. Oil on canvas. 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: 2, The Tête-à-Tête, c. 1743. Oil on canvas. 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: 3, The Inspection, c. 1743. Oil on canvas. 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: 4, The Toilette, c. 1743. Oil on canvas. 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: 5, The Bagnio, c. 1743. Oil on canvas. 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.

William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: 6, The Lady's Death, c. 1743. Oil on canvas. 66.9 x 90.8 cm. The National Gallery, London.

Gérard Jean-Baptiste Scotin (French, 1698–after 1755), after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: Plate 1, 1745. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 3/16 x 18 5/16 in. (38.5 x 46.5 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Bernard Baron (French, 1969–1762), after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: Plate 2, 1745. Etching and engraving. Sheet: 15 1/16 x 18 1/4 in. (38.3 x 46.3 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Bernard Baron (French, 1969–1762), after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: Plate 3, 1745. Etching and engraving. Plate: 15 3/8 x 18 1/2 in. (39 x 47 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Simon Francis Ravenet, the elder (French, 1706–1774), after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: Plate 4, 1745. Etching and engraving. Plate: 15 1/4 x 18 1/2 in. (38.7 x 47 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Simon Francis Ravenet, the elder (French, 1706–1774), after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: Plate 5, 1745. Etching and engraving. Plate: 15 1/4 x 18 7/16 in. (38.8 x 46.9 cm.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Simon Francis Ravenet, the elder (French, 1706–1774), after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764). Marriage A-la-Mode: Plate 6, 1745. Engraving. Plate: 15 3/16 x 18 3/8 in. (38.6 x 46.7 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). 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.