'The Soane Hogarths' by Christina Scull. First published in 1991. New, revised edition 72 pages, 103 illustrations of which 52 in colour, including 5 full-page details at life-size. ISBN 978-0-9549041-3-3 A Rake's Progress (1734-5) and An Election (1755) are the most famous of William Hogarth's series of 'modern moral subjects'. Hazlitt described Hogarth's paintings as 'A perpetual collision of eccentricities, a tilt and tournament of absurdities, the prejudices and caprices of mankind let loose' and they still delight, interest and amuse as much today as two hundred years ago and the biting quality of their moral satire is undiminished. The two series were purchased in the early nineteenth century by the architect Sir John Soane, who regarded them as amongst his greatest treasures. The only other complete Hogarth series to survive is Marriage A-la-mode, in the National Gallery, London. In this book Christina Scull sets the paintings in the context of Hogarth's life and times and of his other moral series, A Harlot's Progress and Marriage A-la-mode and gives a detailed account of their narrative and contents. The eight paintings of A Rake's Progress and the four paintings of An Election are all illustrated in colour, together with many of the engravings - authorised as well as pirate editions - based on them. Since this volume was first published in 1991, the celebrity status of the Soane Hogarths has continued to grow. In 1997 A Rake's Progress featured in a special exhibition at the Museum together with the precursors and successors of Hogarth's great social satire. The crowds flocked to the Gallery and the catalogue sold out within weeks. In 2001, General Election year in Britain, An Election was given its own show which proved a soothing tonic for a nation weary of politicians and their antics.
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