William Hogarth 1697–1764

Small exhibition at Tate Britain to mark 250 years since the death of William Hogarth focusing on the relationship the gallery has had with him over the years.

It showed how in the early years of the Tate Hogarth was seen as the founding father of British art and works by him were the earliest in the collection. The first major show of Hogarth at the Tate was in 1951 and can you believe the last one, which seems like yesterday, was in 20071

The display showed how the collection of Hogarth’s grew and each label explained when and how it was added. All the pictures which had come from the National Gallery on the Tate’s independence in 1955 were on show.

Of course I love the self-portrait with his pug dog but other lovely works included some great paintings of children in which he seems to give them a certain worldly wise wisdom. I also like the scene from the end of the Beggar’s Opera as it is one of the first pictures of a stage performance.

The wonderful portrait of his servants was there and the write up pointed out it was a studio piece as it showed off his skill. If you had gone to the studio to buy a picture you would probably have been shown in my one of the servants then the first thing you saw was their portrait! I think I might have bought on that basis!

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