Social Political & Satirical

29x37 cm

The Politician.
Will:^m Hogarth Inv:^t | Etch'd by J:K:Sherwin.
Etch'd from an Original Sketch of W:^m Hogarth's, in the Possession of M:^r Forrest. Pub:^d as the Act directs by Jane Hogarth, 1775. Oct.r 31.st 

Folio engraving by John Keyse Sherwin (1751-1790) from a sketch by William Hogarth showing his friend Ebenezer Forrest, lacemaker and politician reading a paper while inadvertently setting fire to his hat with the candle he holds in his hand.

William Hogarth (1697-1764), apprenticed as an engraver, became the most signifiant artist and printmaker of his time, his satirical caricatures and political cartoons establishing the genre. From 1730 Hogarth established his own business publishing and selling his own prints. After his death his plates passed to his wife Jane who continued issuing his prints until her own death in 1789. The plates were then acquired by publisher John Boydell and sold again, at the Boydell bankruptcy sale in 1818 to Baldwin & Cradock who began selling prints from 1820. Noted engraver James Heath was employed to strengthen some of the engravings and prints from this issue are in their final states. This edition, printed in 1822 on fine quality Whatman wove paper, is considered the last good printing of Hogarth’s engraved works.  

Waterstain to the paper top left corner not affecting the plate area.