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
1. _Thomas Herring_, Archbishop of _Canterbury. W. Hogarth p. B. Baron
sculp._ Of this picture (which is preserved in _Lambeth-Palace_) the
Archbishop, in a letter to Mr. _Duncombe_, says, "None of my friends
can bear _Hogarth's_ picture;" and Mr. _Duncombe_, the son, in a note
to this epistle, observes, that "this picture (as appears by the print
engraved by _Baron_ in 1750) exhibits rather a caricature than a
likeness, the figure being gigantic, the features all aggravated and
_outrés_, and, on the whole, so far from conveying an idea of that
_os placidum, moresque benigni_, as Dr. _Jortin_ expresses it, that
engaging sweetness and benevolence, which were characteristic of this
prelate, that they seem rather expressive of a _Bonner_, who could burn
a heretic.
"_Lovat's_ hard features _Hogarth_ might command;
A _Herring's_ sweetness asks a _Reynolds'_ hand."
_Hogarth_ however made the following observation while the Archbishop
was sitting to him: "Your Grace, perhaps, does not know that some of
our chief dignitaries in the church have had the best luck in their
portraits. The most excellent heads painted by _Vandyck_ and _Kneller_,
were those of _Laud_ and _Tillotson_. The crown of my works will be the
representation of your Grace."
2. _Jacobus Gibbs_, Architectus, A. M. and F. R. S. _Hogarth delin.
Baron sculp._ The same face as that in 1747, but in an octagon frame,
which admits more of the body to be shewn, as well as some architecture
in the back ground. There is also a smaller head of _Gibbs_, in
a circle, &c. but whether engraved by _Baron_ from a picture by
_Hogarth_, or any other hand, is uncertain. Perhaps it was designed as
a vignette for some splendid edition of _Gibbs's_ works.
3. The March to _Finchley_,[1] dedicated to the King of _Prussia_[2][as
"an Encourager of the Arts,"] "_in resentment for the late king's
sending for the picture to St. James's, and returning it without
any other notice._" This print is _engraved by Luke Sullivan_ but
afterwards, as we learn from a note at the bottom of it, was "Retouched
and _improved_ by _Wm. Hogarth_, and republished _June_ 12, 1761." The
_improvements_ in it, however, remain to be discovered by better eyes
than mine.
I am authorized to add, that soon after the lottery described in a note
at the beginning of this article, our artist waited on the treasurer
to the _Foundling Hospital_, acquainting him that the trustees were at
liberty to dispose of the picture by auction. Scarce, however, was the
message delivered, before he changed his mind, and never afterwards
would consent to the measure he had originally proposed. The late Duke
of _Ancaster_ offered the hospital 300 _l._ for it. The following
complete explanation of it is in _The Student_, vol. II. p. 16. It is
supposed to have been written by the ingenious Mr. _Bonnel Thornton_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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