Hogarth-ho!

When I suggested yesterday that the subjects of William Hogarth's art were drink-sodden, depraved and lowly citizens of the British Crown, I wasn't thinking of these.

Though, of course, they could be. That baby on the far left appears unsteady on his feet, the two girls look rather befuddled if not positively raddled, and the young gentleman with the 'bird-organ' (no insult; a 'bird-organ' is a musical box designed to imitate the chirping of our feathered friends) is clearly is not in any fit state to be operating machinery. Not to metion the sottish light in the kitten's eyes.

But no. These are the Graham children as they appeared in 1742, progeny of the Doctor of the same name, resident of Pall Mall and apothecary to King George II (God Bless 'im).

Well, look - William had to eat.

No, the sort of thing I had in mind was much more like this:



In tomorrow's post, I intend to explore with you the following conundrum: while, in the 18th century, England's poor were notorious as being the aforementioned drink-sodden, depraved and lowly etc., her highwaymen were praised throughout Europe for the excellence and all-round gentility of their manner...