Hogarth's Works, with life and anecdotal descriptions of his pictures. Volume 3 (of 3)Ireland, John
General
Hogarth's Works, with life and anecdotal descriptions of his pictures. Volume 3 (of 3)
Ireland, John
Hogarth, William, 1697-1764
"Rozinanté was so long and lank, so thin and lean, so like one
labouring with an incurable consumption, as did clearly show with
what propriety his master so entitled him. Sancho Panza, or Canzas,
was so called, because he had a great belly, a short stature, and
thick legs."[117]
To attempt a description of the nine following prints in any other
words than those of Cervantes, would be absurd and vain; to suppose
that the greatest part of my readers had not perused _Don Quixote_,
would be an insult on their taste. I will therefore take it for
granted that the following scenes are in their recollection. The few
that have not read this admirable romance have a pleasure to come;
as an inducement to their embracing it, I will insert little more
than a reference to the page in Shelton, whose quaint old English
has perhaps more serious Cervantic humour than either Jarvis' or
Smollett's modern translations. My edition is that of 1675.
PLATE I.
THE FIRST SALLY IN QUEST OF ADVENTURES.
[Illustration: DON QUIXOTE PLATE I.]
The original from which this plate is copied is in Jarvis' quarto
translation, without either painter's or engraver's name; but the
style of the etching, and air of the figures, indisputably
determine the artist. It represents our heroic candidate for fame,
before he had received the honour of knighthood, at the door of an
inn, which he considered as a castle; the host holding his horse's
bridle, and two young female travellers looking with astonishment
at his figure. In the distance is a swineherd blowing his horn,
which our adventurer mistakes for a trumpet sounded by a dwarf on
the battlements, to announce his approaching the portico of the
castle.--_Vide Shelton_, p. 3.
PLATE II.
THE INNKEEPER.
[Illustration: DON QUIXOTE PLATE II.]
The original of this print is in my possession, and was designed
to represent the innkeeper conferring the order of knighthood on
Don Quixote, but for some cause, not now known, never finished. The
artist probably intended that it should form a part of the series
begun for Lord Carteret, but the other six being discarded, never
completed his design; though a slight outline of the Don kneeling to
receive his new honours is discernible in the corner of the print.
Mine host, though a large man, is a less portly personage than the
author describes. This print is not in any of the catalogues of
Hogarth's works, but the style leaves little doubt of the artist.
In the plate from Vanderbank, in Jarvis' quarto, representing the
whole scene, the innkeeper has a more than accidental resemblance to
this figure.
PLATE III.
THE FUNERAL OF CHRYSOSTOM.
[Illustration: DON QUIXOTE PLATE III.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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