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William Hogarth (1697-1764)
The English artist William Hogarth was a leading social critic of his day -- known for his satirical art that mocked the manners and morals of 18th century England. He is best known for his series of paintings that told a story through related scenes. The six-part Marriage a la Mode (1743) mocked upper-class marriage customs. The eight-part series, A Rake's Progress (1735), shows the rise and fall of a middle-class youth.
Other works poked fun at the courts, elections, corrupt public officials, and the social costs of liquor. The sale of engravings from these works made Hogarth wealthy. But he was a controversial critic and disliked by many artists.
The Hogarth works shown in this exhibit are part of a 99-piece Wangenheim collection of original engravings and etchings. |