Art Talks: William Hogarth and the New Middling Sort

Art Talks © The Lightbox

Laurence covers the life and work of William Hogarth and uses three of his "modern moral subjects" to talk about life in eighteenth-century London. 'A Harlot's Progress' shows how a naive country girl became a wealthy mistress and then quickly fell to the lowest ranks of society. 'A Rake's Progress' takes us from an inheritance through a lavish lifestyle to downfall—prison and finally the 'madhouse'.

Hogarth's most famous series 'Marriage A-la-Mode' illustrates the way an eighteenth-century arranged marriage leads to disaffection and death. All the series take common scenes of the day that would have been immediately recognised and Hogarth illustrates his moral lessons through careful selection and brilliant observation. 

£18 Adults, £16 Members/Students