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] The principal figure in the character of _Henry_ VIII. appears to
be not Mr. _P._ but another person whose power is signified by his
bulk of carcase, treading on Mr. _P._ represented by 3000 _l._ The
bellows may signify his well-meaning, though ineffectual, endeavours
to extinguish the fire by wind, which, though it will put out a small
flame, will cherish a large one. The guider of the engine-pipe, I
should think, can only mean his M------, who unweariedly tries, by a
more proper method, to stop the flames of war, in which he is assisted
by all his good subjects, both by sea and land, notwithstanding any
interruption from _Auditors_ or _Britons, Monitors_ or _North Britons_.
The respectable body at the bottom can never mean the magistrates of
_London_; Mr. _H._ has more sense than to abuse so respectable a body;
much less can it mean the judges. I think it may as likely be the Court
of Session in _Scotland_, either in the attitude of adoration, or with
outspread arms intending to catch their patron, should his stilts give
way. The _Frenchman_ may very well sit at his ease among his miserable
countrywomen, as he is not unacquainted that _France_ has always
gained by negociating what she lost in fighting. The fine gentleman
at the window with his garretteers, and the barrow of periodical
papers, refer to the present contending parties of every denomination.
The breaking of the _Newcastle_ arms alludes to the resignation of a
great personage; and the replacing of them, by the sign of the four
clenched fists, may be thought emblematical of the great œconomy of
his successor. The _Norfolk_ jig signifies, in a lively manner, the
alacrity of all his Majesty's forces during the war; and _G. T. [George
Townshend] fecit_, is an opportune compliment paid to Lord _Townshend_,
who, in conjunction with Mr. _Windham_, published "A Plan of Discipline
for the Use of the _Norfolk_ Militia," 4to. and had been the greatest
advocate for the establishment of our present militia. The picture of
the _Indian_ alive from _America_ is a satire on our late uncivilized
behaviour to the three chiefs of the _Cherokee_ nation, who were lately
in this kingdom; and the bags of money set this in a still clearer
point of view, signifying the sums gained by shewing them at our public
gardens. The sly _Dutchman_, with his pipe, seems pleased with the
combustion, from which he thinks he shall be a gainer. And the Duke of
_Nivernois_, under the figure of a dove, is coming from _France_ to
give a cessation of hostilities to _Europe_.
3. _T. Morell_, S. T. P., S. S. A. _W. Hogarth delin. James Basire
sculp._ From a drawing returned to Mr. _Hogarth_. Of this plate there
is an admirable copy, though it has not yet been extensively circulated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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