William Hogarth

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).