Messing with Hogarth

The Royal Society for Public Health has commissioned an update of Hogarth’s famous cartoon ‘Gin Lane’ to publicise the problems of public health. This is from the I paper: Hogarth’s satirical cartoon, published in 1751, blamed excessive consumption of gin for child neglect, disease, prostitution and debauchery. Thomas Moore’s Gin Lane 2016, commissioned by the … Continue reading →

Hogarth on Vaucanson

When the French inventor/mechanic/clever clogs Jacques de Vaucanson came to London in 1743 to display his incredible automata – as reported in a previous blog – his duck, flute player and tabor player were all the talk of the town. It was shown at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Nobody had ever seen such life-like machinery, … Continue reading →

Hogarth’s Rest

William Hogarth had a summer residence at Chiswick, then on the outskirts of the carbuncle that was 18th century London. This is his family grave in Chiswick churchyard with his wife, daughter of court painter Thornbill & her mother. Church porch- fantastic fan vaulting

Hogarth and Children

Statue of William Hogarth, Chiswick, London William Hogarth was one of the first artists to make his mark after the chaos of the English Civil War, but he is more famous for his satirical prints than for any real depth in his paintings.  but, along with the Musician Handel and sculpture Michael Rysbrack, he was … Continue reading →

Foundling Tokens

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries in England, there were problems with large numbers of orphans. It is generally assumed the children were orphans due to the death or illness of one or both parents, but this was not always the case. In an earlier post I wrote about the first charity to deal with … Continue reading →