Kupferstich, John Wilkes,Liberty, Stich von William Hogarth, Mitte 18. Jhdrt.

Kupferstich
John Wilkes
von William Hogarth
Mitte des 18. Jhdrts.

John Wilkes war ein britischer Whig-Politiker, Journalist und Schriftsteller in der Zeit der Aufklärung

William Hogarth, FRSA war ein sozialkritischer englischer Maler und Grafiker. Er gilt neben Thomas Gainsborough und Joshua Reynolds als bedeutendster englischer Maler des 18. Jahrhunderts

ca 15 x 24 cm
im Passepartout 27 x 36 cm


William Hogarth
John Wilkes Esqr.
London, Baldwin Craddock and Joy 1822
Copper engraving


Hogarth’s unflattering portrait of his friend the radical politician John Wilkes (1727-97). The cross eyed, leering Wilkes sits, legs apart, in a carved chair, holding the Staff of Maintenance against his shoulder, on it a vessel simulating the Cap of Liberty. Hogarth has made style of his wig give the impression of Devil’s horns. On the table beside him are nos 17 and 45 of Wilkes’s radical broadsheet the North Briton. Wilkes had followed the publication of Hogarth’s print The Times, Plate One with a personal attack on the artist in the North Briton no 17. Never one to swallow an affront Hogarth, saw his chance of revenge when Wilkes was arrested following his attack on the King’s Speech on April 19th the following year. Wilkes was committed to the Tower, but eventually (to the great joy of the London mob) released by Lord Camden on May 6th. Hogarth had sketched Wilkes (who later recalled Hogarth ‘sculking behind a screen’) during the hearing in Westminster Hall. Wilkes was later to admit that he grew more his portrait everyday.