William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English realist artist who lived from 1697 to 1764. Although he did traditional portraits and realistic scenes, Hogarth is most remembered for his satire works and social criticisms. Additionally, Hogarth was the first artist to paint sequential art, or using images in a sequence to tell a story.
Hogarth was born in London, England to a relatively poor family. At an early age, he apprenticed at an engraver’s shop. It was there that he received his first training. The young artist was so disappointed in his training that he pushed himself to progress at a pace more to his liking. Living in London provided a wealth of visuals for the young artist, who often sketched scenes of life around him. Hogarth completed his apprenticeship in 1720. He then set up his own shop as an engraver, creating coats of arms, shop signs, and other heraldic ornaments.
Once he was on his own, Hogarth expanded his art base and began creating engravings for books and politically themed satire works. He targeted economic crises, masquerades, people with religious titles, morality, alcoholism, and well-known people in society. During this period in England, morality was an often-debated topic. So, Hogarth’s moral works made him well-known throughout the country.
For the first time, the printing press made artworks more widely available for public consumption. Hogarth’s illustrations were now sold in shops and often displayed in taverns, shop windows, and public buildings. In addition to engravings, Hogarth was a well-known and respected portrait artist, and was paid well for his commissions. As such, he was the most famous English artist of his time.
Hogarth’s works were very popular and as such, were often plagiarized. In response, he became an advocate of the Copyright Act of 1735. This law was created to protect artists and writers. Hogarth was assigned the Serjeant Painter to the King George III, in 1757, a prestigious appointment whose tasks included painting coaches, gilding the residences of the King, creating banners, and decorating for special events. William Hogarth died in his hometown of London, England, in 1764 at 66 years of age.
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