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Engravings by Hogarth

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This book contains 101 of Hogarth's finest and most important engravings, including all the major series or "progresses": "The South Sea Scheme," A Harlot's Progress , "A Midnight Modern Conversation," A Rake's Progress , Before and After , Marriage à la Mode , Industry and Idleness , "The March to Finchley," The Four Stages of Cruelty , "Time Smoking a Picture," "Tailpiece," and many more, including ten study sketches and paintings that show how the final works evolved.
Sean Shesgreen, a foremost authority on Hogarth, has consistently selected the best states of the plates to be used in this edition and has carefully introduced them, commenting upon the artist's milieu and the importance of plot, character, time, setting, and other dimensions. A most important aspect of this book, found in no other Hogarth edition, is the positioning of the editor's commentary on each plate on a facing page. With the incredible and sometimes overwhelming amount of detail and action going on in these engravings, this is a most helpful feature.

205 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1973

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About the author

William Hogarth

306 books7 followers
William Hogarth (10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic, and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art.

His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects". Knowledge of his work is so pervasive that satirical political illustrations in this style are often referred to as "Hogarthian".

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Anise.
41 reviews3 followers
March 21, 2015
At 11x14 inches in size, the images are of better quality than any similar book on Hogarth's works that I have read, easily revealing their finest details. The accompanying text can be a bit sparse, but this hardly merits a complaint next to the size and clarity of the plates themselves.
Profile Image for E.
202 reviews11 followers
April 8, 2025
William Hogarth 1697-1764 started his training as an engraver.

He became a talented painter but is famous for his amazing detailed engravings of everyday life in England.

His subjects were often caricatures of the cruel nature of society during this period.

William Hogarth is renowned for his satirical modern moral subjects series, particularly:

"A Harlot's Progress," "A Rake's Progress," and "Marriage A-la-Mode," which depicted contemporary life and social commentary through a series of engravings and paintings.

He died at 66 of an aneurysm.
He and his wife had a loving marriage, but we're childless.

They often fostered foundling children, and he was a founding governor of the Foundling Hospital.
Profile Image for James.
127 reviews15 followers
November 25, 2012
A wonderfully funny and strange view from a master of the cartoon as social commentary in 18th century England. These engravings are detailed, exquisite renderings from a great artist. Dover has produced a terrific broadside edition that showcases Hogarth's talent.
Profile Image for Jillian King.
178 reviews3 followers
July 30, 2009
The first graphic novel?! Or at least an early incarnation!
Profile Image for Phillip.
988 reviews7 followers
November 28, 2016
Great illustrations--Full Size Reproductions. Enough Explanatory test to satisfy. Recommended Companion Book to SAM Graphic Masters Exhibit
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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