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William Hogarth

William Hogarth - A Rake's Progress Plate 1 Tom Rakewell's father has just died and he is preparing for the funeral

A Rake's Progress: Plate 1 (Tom Rakewell's father has just died and he is preparing for the funeral)

William Hogarth's original engraving, A Rake's Progress, Plate 1 depicts the opening scene of for the complete set of eight engravings. A Rake's Progresst takes place in the dreary family home of young Tom Rakewell. His father has just died and he is being measured for mourning apparel. To prepare for the funeral, a workman hammers black cloth to the wall in the background. Everything within this cold and dark room reinforces the fact that the father was an obsessive miser: His portrait above the fireplace portrays him counting money, while hidden coins are dislodged from a crack in the wall by the workman's hammering. Worse still, to the lower left, we see evidence of one of the father's last miserly acts -- he has cut a sole for his shoe from the leather cover of a Bible!

In Tom Rakewell, however, we already see evidence that his character veers to the opposite extreme. Without sympathy for his deceased father he has quickly opened every closet and box to determine his new found wealth. Bonds, mortgages, indentures and other documents lie carelessly at his feet. To the extreme right we are introduced to the tear ridden and pregnant Sarah Young. She holds a wedding ring in her hand and is accompanied by her fierce mother who carries love letters in which Tom has promised his intent to marry. Showing no remorse for his callous seduction, Tom attempts to buy the mother off with coin.

A Rake's Progress was first published by William Hogarth in 1735. Created several years after A Harlot's Progress, it chronicles many of the same vices and follies. But whereas Moll, the heroine of the earlier set, is a victim of society, the young, aristocratic 'hero', of A Rake's Progress, Tom Rakewell, is a victim of himself. In this series, Hogarth brilliantly satirizes the often useless and destructive character of Britain's ruling classes.

A Rake's Progress: Plate 1 (Tom Rakewell's father has just died and he is preparing for the funeral) was both designed and engraved by William Hogarth. This original engraving is printed upon early nineteenth century wove paper and with large, full margins as published by William Heath in 1822. It is a fine, original example of the satirical art created by the British artist, William Hogarth. A Rake's Progress: Plate 1; Paulson Catalogue #132, Fourth and Final State (Complete Set of Eight Original Engravings).

 
Title: A Rake's Progress, Plate 1: Tom Rakewell's father has just died and he is preparing for the funeral (Complete Set of Eight Original Engravings)
Artist: Hogarth, William (London, 1697 - 1764)
Date: 1735 (Heath Edition 1822)
Medium: Original Engraving
Publisher: William Heath, London
Note: William Hogarth: The name of William Hogarth requires little in the way of an introduction. He is the unquestioned father of England's rich tradition of satire and remains one of the most original and lively minds in the entire history of British art. Famous for his paintings, Hogarth's engravings are even more paramount: the imagery from The Harlot's Progress, Marriage a la Mode, The Four Stages of Cruelty, The Four Times of the Day and a host of others are crucial to an understanding of eighteenth century art and culture. Yet Hogarth's art stretched beyond his time and his masterful engravings are as relevant to our society as they were to his.
  Training first as an engraver, Hogarth became an independent illustrator as early as 1720. In his spare time he studied painting techniques, notably under Sir James Thornhill. By 1730 he established himself as a portrait painter. Yet at the same time Hogarth began creating sets of anecdotal pictures which brilliantly satirized society and its activities. The first such set, A Harlot's Progress (1732), gained for Hogarth a strong and lasting national reputation. During the following decades he both painted and engraved individual works and sets of images which forged the cornerstone for English satirical art. Such great masters as Rowlandson, Gillray, Heath and Cruikshank followed in Hogarth's footsteps.
  A Rake's Progress, Plate 1: The opening scene of A Rake's Progress takes place in the dreary family home of young Tom Rakewell. His father has just died and he is being measured for mourning apparel. To prepare for the funeral, a workman hammers black cloth to the wall in the background. Everything within this cold and dark room reinforces the fact that the father was an obsessive miser: His portrait above the fireplace portrays him counting money, while hidden coins are dislodged from a crack in the wall by the workman's hammering. Worse still, to the lower left, we see evidence of one of the father's last miserly acts -- he has cut a sole for his shoe from the leather cover of a Bible!
Raisonne: Ronald Paulson, Hogarth's Graphic Works, London, Yale University Press, 1965.
  Plate 1; Paulson #132, Fourth and Final State.
Reference: Sean Shesgreen, Engravings by Hogarth, New York, Dover Press,1973, plate 28.
Source: Heath Edition, London (A Rake's Progress, Set of eight)
Size: 14 X 16 1/4 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
  Unmatted
Condition: Printed upon early nineteenth century wove paper and with large, full margins as published by William Heath in 1822. One should take note that Heath was the last printer to print directly from Hogarth's original engraved plates. All 'Hogarth' prints appearing after this date are merely copies of these original graphic works of art.
  These original impressions from the complete set of A Rake's Progress contain very faint foxing and smudging along the outer margins (well away from the actual engravings. The back of plate 4 has acid free tape re-enforcing a fragile upper plate mark, else each is a finely printed impression and in excellent condition throughout. A Rake's Progress represents a superb, original example of the famous engraved art of William Hogarth.
Price: Sold - The price is no longer available.
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Original Engraving by the British Satirical Artist, William Hogarth

A Rake's Progress Plate 1 Tom Rakewell's father has just died and he is preparing for the funeral Original Engraving by the British Satirical Artist William Hogarth
A Rake's Progress: Plate 1 (Tom Rakewell's father has just died and he is preparing for the funeral)

View Complete Set of Eight Original Engravings for A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth.

#4.- A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth (Complete Set of Eight Original Engravings)
  Image Title & Artist Medium Date Note -
01.- Plate 1 A Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell's father has just died by William Hogarth Plate 1 'A Rake's Progress' Tom Rakewell's father has just died and he is preparing for the funeral by William Hogarth Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, Catalogue #132, Fourth and Final State. Sold
02.- Plate 2 A Rake's Progress The young aristocrat Tom Rakewell has set himself up by William Hogarth Plate 2 'A Rake's Progress' The young aristocrat, Tom Rakewell has set himself up in fine furnishings by William Hogarth Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, Catalogue #133, Fourth and Final State. Sold
03.- Plate 3 A Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell has ordered an all night entertainment by William Hogarth Plate 3 'A Rake's Progress' Tom Rakewell has ordered an all night entertainment by William Hogarth. Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, #134, Third and Final State. Sold
04.- Plate 4 A Rake's Progress The first signs of Tom Rakewell's downfall by William Hogarth Plate 4 'A Rake's Progress' The first signs of Tom Rakewell's downfall by William Hogarth. Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, Catalogue #135, Third and Final State. Sold
05.- Plate 5 A Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell has been saved from debtor's prison by William Hogarth Plate 5 'A Rake's Progress' The rake, Tom Rakewell has been saved from debtor's prison by William Hogarth Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, Catalogue #136, Third and Final State. Sold
06.- Plate 6 A Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell's gambling second inevitable loss of fortune by William Hogarth Plate 6 'A Rake's Progress' Tom Rakewell's gambling, second inevitable loss of fortune by William Hogarth Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, Catalogue #137, Third and Final State. Sold
07.- Plate 7 A Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell sits dumbfounded in a debtor's prison by William Hogarth Plate 7 'A Rake's Progress' The Rake, Tom Rakewell sits dumbfounded in a debtor's prison by William Hogarth. Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, Catalogue #138, Fourth and Final State. Sold
08.- Plate 8 A Rake's Progress Tom Rakewell ends up in the Bethlehem Hospital madhouse by William Hogarth Plate 8 'A Rake's Progress' Tom Rakewell ends up in the Bethlehem Hospital madhouse by William Hogarth. Original Engraving 1735 (Heath Edition 1822) Paulson, Catalogue #139, Third and Final State. Sold

View other original Works of Art by William Hogarth

William Hogarth (London, 1697 - 1764)
# Title & Artist Medium Date -
01.- An Election Entertainment by William Hogarth Complete Set of Four Original Engravings 1755 - 1758 (Heath Ed) Sold
02.- Analysis of Beauty by William Hogarth Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (Plate I & II) 1753 (Heath Ed) Sold
03.- A Midnight Modern Conversation by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1732 (Heath Ed) Sold
04.- A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth Complete Set of Eight Original Engravings 1735 (Heath Ed) Sold
05.- A Chorus of Singers by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1732 (Heath Ed) Sold
06.- Battle of the Pictures by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1743 (Heath Ed) Sold
07.- Boys Peeping at Nature by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1730 (Heath Ed) Available
08.- Characters & Caricaturas by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1743 (Heath Ed) Sold
09.- Credulity, Superstition and Fanaticism by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1762 (Heath Ed) Sold
10.- Four Times of The Day by William Hogarth Complete Set of Four Original Engravings 1738 (Heath Ed) Sold
11.- Four Stages of Cruelty by William Hogarth Complete Set of Four Original Engravings 1750-1751 (Heath Ed) Sold
12.- Frontispiece to Taylor's Perspective by William Woollett & William Hogarth Original Line Engraving 1761 (Heath Ed) Sold
13.- Gin Lane by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1750-1751 (Heath Ed) Sold
14.- Illustrations for Samuel Butler's 'Hudibras' by William Hogarth Complete Set of Twelve Original Engravings 1725 (Heath Ed) Available
15.- Industry and Idleness by William Hogarth Complete Set of Twelve Original Engravings 1747 (Heath Ed) Sold
16.- John Wilkes Esquire by William Hogarth Original Etching 1763 (Heath Ed) Sold
17.- Marriage a la Mode by William Hogarth Complete Set of Six Original Engravings 1745 (Heath Ed) Sold
18.- Martin Folkes Esqr. by William Hogarth Original Etching & Engraving 1742 (Heath Ed) Available
19.- Moses Brought to Pharaoh's Daughter by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1752 (Heath Ed) Available
20.- Pit Ticket: The Cockpit by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1759 (Heath Ed) Available
21.- Satire on False Perspective by Luke Sullivan & William Hogarth Original Etching & Engraving 1754 (Heath Ed) Sold
22.- Scholars at a Lecture by William Hogarth Original Line Engraving & Etching 1736 (Heath Ed) Sold
23.- Shrimps! by Francesco Bartolozzi & William Hogarth Original Stipple Engraving 1782 Sold
24.- Simon Lord Lovat by William Hogarth Original Etching 1746 (Heath Ed) Sold
25.- Southwark Fair by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1733 (Heath Ed) Sold
26.- Taste in High Life by Samuel Phillips & William Hogarth Original Stipple Engraving 1808 (John Boydell Ed.) Sold
27.- The Company of Undertakers by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1736 (Heath Ed) Sold
28.- The Distrest Poet by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1736 (Heath Ed) Sold
29.- The Five Orders of Perriwigs by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1761 (Heath Ed) Sold
30.- The Invasion: France, Plate I by William Hogarth Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (England & France) 1756 (Heath Ed) Sold
31.- The Invasion: England, Plate II by William Hogarth Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (England & France) 1756 (Heath Ed) Sold
32.- The Laughing Audience by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1733 (Heath Ed) Sold
33.- The Politician by John Keyse Sherwin & William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1775 (Heath Ed) Sold
34.- The Sleepy Congregation by William Hogarth Original Engraving & Etching 1736 (Heath Ed) Sold
35.- The Times by William Hogarth Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (Plate I & II) 1762 (Heath Ed) Sold
36.- Time Smoking a Picture by William Hogarth Original Engraving 1761 (Heath Ed) Sold
37.- William Hogarth Painting of the Comic Muse by William Hogarth Original Engraving 1764 (Heath Ed) Sold

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