Art Appreciation – February 2022
At our January meeting, John Vick took the lead giving us a presentation on the works of William Hogarth. He is best known for his engravings showing aspects of life in early 18th century England. Many people will recognise his Gin Lane and Beer Street pictures from their school history books. They are full of fascinating and amusing details. We learn a great deal of social history from his pictures and they are a fascinating reflection of the moral values and preoccupations of the time. Many of these engravings were developed from oil paintings, and he also had a considerable reputation as a portraitist.
Whereas many artists relied on portraits and patronage to make their living, Hogarth was a shrewd businessman who realised he could make a good living by selling his work in reproduction to a newly prosperous middle class. This meant that his art represented his own choice of subject matter. A lot of his art is derived from his interest in the theatre, and included scenes from Shakespeare plays, the Beggar’s Opera and street entertainment. He was a close associate of John Gay, David Garrick and George Frederick Handel.
In addition to his artistic endeavours, Hogarth is a very interesting figure in our national life, being largely responsible for the passing of a law to protect copyright for artists. He also helped to create the first art gallery open to the public which eventually became the Royal Academy. He was also a major supporter of the Foundling Hospital which rescued for and cared for thousands of babies abandoned on the streets of London.
Our next meeting will be at a different time from our normal slot. We will meet at 2pm on Thursday 10th February in the Mayor’s Parlour of the Manor House. Members have been invited to talk about a work of art of their choice on the theme of Work and Industry.
Lynne Vick