William Hogarth

William Hogarth Painting of the Comic Muse

"William Hogarth Painting the Comic Muse" is Hogarth's only engraved self-portrait. It was first created in 1758 to celebrate the artist's appointment as Sergeant-Painter to King George II. Interestingly, the only extra article William Hogarth chose to include in his working self portrayal is his book, "The Analysis of Beauty", which was first published with two-fold out engravings in 1753. In this book, Hogarth expands upon his aesthetic theory of the power of the curved or serpentine line, and, no doubt, his painting of the comic muse is related to that theory. However, the true wonder of this engraving is William Hogarth's magnificent study of himself. True to his art, it is neither flowery nor flattering; rather it reflects the mind of a truly keen observer and gifted interpreter. In 1764, William Hogarth reworking the plate, however, he altered his expression to one that is much more serious and reflective. Equally important, the muse's mask has been changed to that of a somewhat demonic looking satyr. At this completed point, William Hogarth also adjusted the title to read, "William Hogarth - 1764".

This original engraving entitled "William Hogarth Painting the Comic Muse" was both designed and engraved by William Hogarth. It 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. "William Hogarth Painting the Comic Muse"; Paulson Catalogue # 204, Seventh State of Seven.

William Hogarth (London, 1697 - 1764)
#	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	-
01.-	An Election Entertainment by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Four Original Engravings	1755 - 1758 (Heath Ed)	Sold
02.-	Analysis of Beauty by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (Plate I & II)	1753 (Heath Ed)	Sold
03.-	A Midnight Modern Conversation by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1732 (Heath Ed)	Sold
04.-	A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Eight Original Engravings	1735 (Heath Ed)	Sold
05.-	A Chorus of Singers by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1732 (Heath Ed)	Sold
06.-	Battle of the Pictures by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1743 (Heath Ed)	Sold
07.-	Boys Peeping at Nature by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1730 (Heath Ed)	Available
08.-	Characters & Caricaturas by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1743 (Heath Ed)	Sold
09.-	Credulity, Superstition and Fanaticism by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1762 (Heath Ed)	Sold
10.-	Four Times of The Day by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Four Original Engravings	1738 (Heath Ed)	Sold
11.-	Four Stages of Cruelty by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Four Original Engravings	1750-1751 (Heath Ed)	Sold
12.-	Frontispiece to Taylor's Perspective by William Woollett & William Hogarth	Original Line Engraving	1761 (Heath Ed)	Sold
13.-	Gin Lane by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1750-1751 (Heath Ed)	Sold
14.-	Illustrations for Samuel Butler's 'Hudibras' by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Twelve Original Engravings	1725 (Heath Ed)	Available
15.-	Industry and Idleness by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Twelve Original Engravings	1747 (Heath Ed)	Sold
16.-	John Wilkes Esquire by William Hogarth	Original Etching	1763 (Heath Ed)	Sold
17.-	Marriage a la Mode by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Six Original Engravings	1745 (Heath Ed)	Sold
18.-	Martin Folkes Esqr. by William Hogarth	Original Etching & Engraving	1742 (Heath Ed)	Available
19.-	Moses Brought to Pharaoh's Daughter by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1752 (Heath Ed)	Available
20.-	Pit Ticket: The Cockpit by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1759 (Heath Ed)	Available
21.-	Satire on False Perspective by Luke Sullivan & William Hogarth	Original Etching & Engraving	1754 (Heath Ed)	Sold
22.-	Scholars at a Lecture by William Hogarth	Original Line Engraving & Etching	1736 (Heath Ed)	Sold
23.-	Shrimps! by Francesco Bartolozzi & William Hogarth	Original Stipple Engraving	1782	Sold
24.-	Simon Lord Lovat by William Hogarth	Original Etching	1746 (Heath Ed)	Sold
25.-	Southwark Fair by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1733 (Heath Ed)	Sold
26.-	Taste in High Life by Samuel Phillips & William Hogarth	Original Stipple Engraving	1808 (John Boydell Ed.)	Sold
27.-	The Company of Undertakers by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1736 (Heath Ed)	Sold
28.-	The Distrest Poet by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1736 (Heath Ed)	Sold
29.-	The Five Orders of Perriwigs by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1761 (Heath Ed)	Sold
30.-	The Invasion: France, Plate I by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (England & France)	1756 (Heath Ed)	Sold
31.-	The Invasion: England, Plate II by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (England & France)	1756 (Heath Ed)	Sold
32.-	The Laughing Audience by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1733 (Heath Ed)	Sold
33.-	The Politician by John Keyse Sherwin & William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1775 (Heath Ed)	Sold
34.-	The Sleepy Congregation by William Hogarth	Original Engraving & Etching	1736 (Heath Ed)	Sold
35.-	The Times by William Hogarth	Complete Set of Two Original Engravings (Plate I & II)	1762 (Heath Ed)	Sold
36.-	Time Smoking a Picture by William Hogarth	Original Engraving	1761 (Heath Ed)	Sold
37.-	William Hogarth Painting of the Comic Muse by William Hogarth	Original Engraving	1764 (Heath Ed)	Sold

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Title:	William Hogarth Painting of the Comic Muse
Artist:	Hogarth, William (London, 1697 - 1764)
Date:	1764 (Heath Edition 1822)
Medium:	Original Engraving
Publisher:	William Heath, London
Note:	William Hogarth: The name of William Hogarth requires little in the way of an introduction. He is the unquestioned father of England's rich tradition of satire and remains one of the most original and lively minds in the entire history of British art. Famous for his paintings, Hogarth's engravings are even more paramount: the imagery from The Harlot's Progress, Marriage a la Mode, The Four Stages of Cruelty, Gin Lane and a host of others are crucial to an understanding of eighteenth century art and culture. Yet Hogarth's art stretched beyond his time and his masterful engravings are as relevant to our society as they were to his.
	Training first as an engraver, William Hogarth became an independent illustrator as early as 1720. In his spare time, he studied painting techniques, notably under Sir James Thornhill. By 1730 he established himself as a portrait painter. Yet at the same time, William Hogarth began creating sets of anecdotal pictures which brilliantly satirized society and its activities. The first such set, A Harlot's Progress (1732), gained for Hogarth a strong and lasting national reputation. During the following decades, he both painted and engraved individual works and sets of images which forged the cornerstone for English satirical art. Such great masters as Rowlandson, Gillray, Heath and Cruikshank followed in Hogarth's footsteps.
	This original engraving is Hogarth's only engraved self-portrait. "William Hogarth Painting the Comic Muse" was first created in 1758 to celebrate the artist's appointment as Sergeant-Painter to King George II. In its early states, William Hogarth depicts himself with a noticeable smile as he works upon a painting of the muse gazing at her comic mask. Reworking the plate in 1764, however, William Hogarth altered his expression to one that is much more serious and reflective. Equally important, the muse's mask has been changed to that of a somewhat demonic looking satyr. At this completed point, William Hogarth also adjusted the title to read, "William Hogarth - 1764".
	Interestingly, the only extra article Hogarth chose to include in his working self portrayal is his book, The Analysis of Beauty, which was first published with two-fold out engravings in 1753. In this book, Hogarth expands upon his aesthetic theory of the power of the curved or serpentine line, and , no doubt, his painting of the comic muse is related to that theory. However, the true wonder of this engraving is Hogarth’s magnificent study of himself. True to his art it is neither flowery nor flattering; rather it reflects the mind of a truly keen observer and gifted interpreter.
Raisonne:	Ronald Paulson, Hogarth's Graphic Works, London, Yale University Press, 1965. Catalogue # 204, Seventh State of Seven.
Source:	Heath Edition, London
Size:	16 X 13 15/16 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Condition:	Printed upon early nineteenth century wove paper and with large, full margins as published by William Heath in 1822. One should take note that Heath was the last publisher to print directly from Hogarth's original engraved plates. All 'William Hogarth' prints appearing after this date are merely copies of these original graphic works of art.
	This original impression of Hogarth Painting the Comic Muse contains some foxing in the margins, particularly along the right border. Else, a finely printed impression and in excellent condition throughout. Quite simply, this engraving represents one of William Hogarth's most famous works of original art.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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