Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth, With a Catalogue of His WorksNichols, John
General
Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth, With a Catalogue of His Works
Nichols, John
Hogarth, William, 1697-1764
In Plate V. Roof of the room. Back of the chair. Table. Dr.
_Misaubin's_ waistcoat. Name of Dr. _Rock_ on the paper lying on the
close-stool. Dish at the fire.
In a despicable poem published in 1732, under the fictitious name of
_Joseph Gay_, and intituled "_The Harlot's Progress_, which is a key
to the six prints lately published by Mr. _Hogarth_," the two quacks
in attendance on the dying woman are called _Tan--r_ and _G--m_. It
is evident from several circumstances, that this Mr. _J. Gay_ became
acquainted with our author's work through the medium of a copy.
In Plate VI. the woman seated next the clergyman was designed for
_Elizabeth Adams_, who, at the age of 30, was afterwards executed for
a robbery, _September_ 10, 1737. The common print of her will justify
this assertion.
If we may trust the wretched metrical performance just quoted, the Bawd
in this sixth plate was designed for Mother _Bentley_.
The portrait hanging up in the _Jew's_ apartment was originally
subscribed "Mr. _Woolston_." There was a scriptural motto to one of the
other pictures; and on the cieling of the room in which the girl is
dying, a certain obscene word was more visible than it is at present.
The former inscription on the paper now inscribed Dr. _Rock_, was also
a gross one. I should in justice add, that before these plates were
delivered to the subscribers, the offensive particulars here mentioned
were omitted.
The following paragraph in _The Grub-street Journal_ for _September_
24, 1730, will sufficiently justify the splendid appearance the Harlot
makes in _Bridewell_. See Plate IV. Such well-dressed females are
rarely met with in our present houses of correction.
"One _Mary Muffet_, a woman of great note in the hundreds of
_Drury_, who, about a fortnight ago, was committed to hard labour in
_Tothill-fields Bridewell_, by nine justices, brought his Majesty's
writ of _Habeas Corpus_, and was carried before the right honourable
the lord chief justice _Raymond_, expecting to have been either
bailed or discharged; but her commitment appearing to be legal, his
lordship thought fit to remand her back again to her former place of
confinement, where _she is now beating hemp in a gown very richly laced
with silver_."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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