A Rake's Progress, Plate 1
William Hogarth, English, 1697 - 1764
published June 25, 1735
Etching and engraving on laid paper
Plate: 15 15/16 × 13 7/8 in. (40.5 × 35.3 cm)
Sheet: 21 5/8 × 13 7/8 in. (55 × 35.3 cm)
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Purchased through the Florence and Lansing Porter Moore 1937 Fund, the Mrs. Harvey P. Hood W.18 Fund, the Jean and Adolph Weil Jr. 1935 Fund, the Barbara Dau '78 Fund for European Art, and the Class of 1935 Memorial Fund
2015.9.1
Publisher
William Hogarth
Geography
Place Made: England, United Kingdom, Europe
Period
1600-1800
Object Name
Research Area
Not on view
Inscriptions
In plate, below image: O vanity of Age, untoward, Ever Spleeny, ever forward! Why those Bolts & Massy Chains, Squint Suspicions, jealous Pains? / Why, thy toilsome Journey o’er, Lay’st thou in an useless store? Hope along with Time is flown, Nor canst thou reap ye. [e superscript] Field thou’st sown. / Hast Thou a Son? In Time be wise He views thy Toil with other Eyes __ Needs must thy kind, paternal Care, Lock’d in thy Chests, be buried there. / Whence then shall flow yt. [t superscript] friendly Ease, that social Converse, homefelt Peace, Familiar Duty without Dread, Instruction from Example bred, / That youthfull Mind with Freedom mend, And with ye. [e superscript] Father mix the Friend? / invented Painted ^& [superscript] Engrav’d by Wm. [m superscript] Hogarth & Publish’d June ye. [e superscript] 25, 1735. According to Act of Parliament. / Plate 1.
Label
In this series of eight prints, Hogarth addresses the indulgence and excess that sudden wealth can lead to if bestowed on an intemperate person. The artist first created a series of eight paintings, which were then engraved. The canvases were painted in 1732–34, and the engravings made and published by 1735. The prints allowed more people to see these works than if they had been exhibited only as paintings.
The protagonist of A Rake’s Progress has great wealth that he seems to enjoy until his extravagance causes his ruin. Hogarth recognizes that often the farther we pursue own own satisfaction, the more we hurt ourselves. He introduces the viewer to Tom Rakewell, who is described in the title of the series as a rake, or gentleman of promiscuous tendencies, who is the heir to his father’s fortune. In the first scene, he visits his late father’s home, which shows evidence of the father as a miser. In the second print, Tom conducts a levée, a routine usually associated with royalty, in which he is instructed in cultural matters including dance and music. Hogarth mocks this practice by depicting the teachers in the French style—of which he was not an admirer. The third and fourth scenes show Tom at a brothel and narrowly escaping arrest for his fiscal irresponsibility. Tom then tries to save himself by marrying a rich woman despite her old age and ugly countenance, but he quickly gambles away his newfound wealth. Finally, Tom is imprisoned and condemned to an insane asylum.
Hogarth’s moralistic commentary is not unique to this story’s protagonist; rather, Tom Rakewell is a lens through which we can view the artist’s understanding and critique of society at the time. On view are six of the eight prints in A Rake’s Progress, excluding prints 5 and 6, which depict his marriage to save his wealth and plea for salvation while in a gentlemen’s club.
From the 2019 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 94, Society Engraved, curated by Jules Wheaton '19, Levinson Intern Campus Engagement
Course History
ARTH 48.05, Satire: Art, Politics & Critique, Kristin O'Rourke, Winter 2022
ARTH 48.05, Satire: Art, Politics & Critique, Kristin O'Rourke, Winter 2022
ARTH 48.05, Satire: Art, Politics, & Critique, Kristin O'Rourke, Fall 2022
Exhibition History
A Space for Dialogue 94, Society Engraved, Jules Wheaton, Class of 2019, Levinson Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, June 22-August 4, 2019.
Publication History
Jules Wheaton, Class of 2019, Levinson Intern, A Space for Dialogue 94, Society Engraved, Hanover, New Hampshire: Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, 2019.
Provenance
C. G. Boerner, New York, New York; sold to present collection, 2015.
This record is part of an active database that includes information from historic documentation that may not have been recently reviewed. Information may be inaccurate or incomplete. We also acknowledge some language and imagery may be offensive, violent, or discriminatory. These records reflect the institution’s history or the views of artists or scholars, past and present. Our collections research is ongoing.
We welcome questions, feedback, and suggestions for improvement. Please contact us at: Hood.Collections@dartmouth.edu