William Hogarth's 'the Distrest Poet and Enraged Musician'

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William Hogarth's 'the Distrest Poet and Enraged Musician'

About the Item

Rare, copper-engraved 18th century companion prints. The Distrest Poet published 1761 A rare lifetime impression, from just after the replacement of the new title and the publication line still shows Price 3 Shillings, which was removed in later states. Hogarth's satire on the impoverished hack poet who is only concerned with his writing rather than the upkeep of his family and responsibilities. Hogarth depicts the interior of a bare attic bedroom. On the right the poet is engaged writing whilst his pretty young wife sits before the fire sewing his tattered breeches. He ignores the angry landlady who had burst in through the door waving a long, unpaid account. In the four poster bed in the background is a squalling baby, a cat feeds her kittens on the poet's discarded coat and a spaniel takes advantage of the distraction to steal the family's meagre supper from a chair by the door. Above the door an open food cupboard is totally bare, linen hangs drying before the fire and above the poet's head hangs a map inscribed A View of the Gold Mines of Peru, an indication that the family has lost their money through unwise speculation. The Enraged Musician published c1780 Hogarth's print of The Enraged Musician, published in November 1741 was advertised as a companion piece to The Distressed Poet 1736. A third composition on the troubles of a painter was projected but never completed. The musician stopping his ears in the window has been interrupted by the sounds from the street: a knife grinder, a dustman, a drummer, an itinerant oboe player, a mother holding a screaming baby and singing, while a child waves a rattle. The scene probably took place in St Martin's Lane, London, on a feast day, when the peal of the bells of St Martin's in the Fields would have added to the cacophony. Available to view at Brunswick House, London.

Creator:
William Hogarth (Artist)
Dimensions:
Height: 20.08 in (51 cm)Width: 22.45 in (57 cm)Depth: 1.38 in (3.5 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Georgian (Of the Period)
Period:
Mid-18th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1761 and circa 1780
Condition:
Some foxing to the plates.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: p004931stDibs: LU98431986792