Hogarth

Description

Hogarth (1697-1764) is one of the most versatile, innovative and celebrated of all British artists. He lived at a time when Britain was emerging as an increasingly urbanized, commercialized and aggressively imperial power. His work celebrates the benefits of commerce, politeness and patriotism, while simultaneously focusing on the corruption, hypocrisy and prejudice they brought in their wake. This book provides an account of the full range of his work - from portraits of aristocrats, to satiric prints commenting on the darker side of contemporary society. His work is situated within the context of the times, from the contrasting lifestyles of the rich and poor, to crime, fashion, scandal, politics and economics.

Mark Hallett is a lecturer in Art History at the University of York and the author of The Spectacle of Difference: Graphic Satire in the Age of Hogarth.

"Sets Hogarth's art and career firmly in the political and social context of his period, and carefully explores the contradictions between his subversive eye for society's underbelly and his calculating eye for the commercial opportunities offered by its overbelly."-John Spurling, RA, the magazine of the Royal Academy of the Arts On the Art & Ideas series "Art & Ideas has broken new ground in making accessible authoritative views on periods, movements and concepts in art. As a series it represents a real advance in publishing."-Sir Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate London "The format is wonderful and offers what had long been missing in academic studies: usable manuals for specific themes or periods... I am definitely not alone in welcoming Art & Ideas as a precious set of teaching tools."-Joachim Pissarro, Yale University "Phaidon's series may prove to be the pick of the crop. It boasts expert but undogmatic texts and a wealth of illustrations."-The Sunday Telegraph