The Beggar's Opera - William Hogarth Memo.

William Hogarth was a leading 18th-century British painter and printmaker. He is known for his sharp insight into the society and customs of his time, and for creating narrative series of paintings and prints that convey moral lessons. He is also known as the "father of English painting," and made a significant contribution to the establishment of a uniquely British art form.

William Hogarth Biography

• November 10, 1697 : Born in London to a Latin teacher and writer.

• 1710s : Apprenticed to a silversmith and learned engraving techniques.

• 1720 : He became independent and opened his own workshop, beginning his career as a printmaker, producing book illustrations and satirical prints.

• 1729 : He virtually eloped with Jane Thornhill, the daughter of his teacher, the court painter Sir James Thornhill.

• Around 1731 : He publishes his first story cycle, The Life of a Courtesan, which achieves great success in both painting and printmaking, establishing his reputation.

• 1735 : Publishes The Prodigal Life. After suffering from piracy of his own prints, he also works hard to pass legislation (commonly known as the "Hogarth Act") to protect artists' copyrights.

• 1743-45 : Created his masterpiece series, A Modern Marriage.

• 1757 : Appointed Chief Court Painter by King George II, a position his father-in-law had also held.

• October 26, 1764 : Died in London (aged 66).

Representative works

• A Harlot's Progress ( c. 1731)

• A Rake's Progress ( c . 1735)

• Marriage A-la-Mode (1743-45)

• Industry and Idleness (1747)

• Hogarth's Servants (c. 1750-55)

• "Shrimp Girl" (c. 1740-45)

Hogarth called his works "Modern Moral Subjects." This was an original attempt to unfold a story in a series of scenes, like a theatrical play, depicting the moral corruption of the characters and their tragic endings. He vividly depicted, with humor and satire, the vanity, hypocrisy, poverty, and alcoholism of 18th-century British society.

His works are filled with props and symbols that hint at the plot and the personalities of the characters, down to the smallest detail, allowing viewers to enjoy deciphering every detail of the picture. Furthermore, by selling not only his paintings but also prints based on them in large quantities at low cost, he made his art accessible to a wide range of people. These innovative techniques and spirit of social criticism had a tremendous influence on the later genre of satirical art, and marked a major step in British art breaking away from imitation of the continent.