Hogarth, William

Hogarth, William a celebrated painter, was born at London in 1697 or 1698, apprenticed to an engraver at an early age, and at the expiration of his apprenticeship entered the Academy of St. Martin's Lane. His first painting was a representation of Wanstead Assembly. In 1725 he engraved some prints for Beaver's Military Punishments of the Ancients. As a painter, he had a great facility in catching a likeness, and adopted a novel method of grouping families. He therefore devoted himself to the delineation of the calamities and crimes of private life, and the vices and follies of the age. His series of, The Hatlot's Progress; The Rake's Progress, gained him great reputation. He was an eccentric genius, and his talents were eminently in burlesque and satire. He did not excel in historical painting, but among his principal plates there are some good works by him, representing The Good Samaritan; The Pool of Bethesda; Paul Before Felix; Moses Brought to Phara'oh's Daughter. He died October 26, 1764.