Crowns, Mitres, Maces etc (subscription ticket)

William Hogarth

Crowns, Mitres, Maces etc (subscription ticket)

London, J. & J. Boydell  1795

Copper engraving

230 x 190mm

Paulson 197 IV/IV

£90

A vignette of various symbols of Royal appointment, the Crown above bestowing its authority on all below. The plate was originally used as a subscription ticket for Hogarth’s ‘Election’ prints. Under the rays of the Royal Crown, set upon a pyramid, is an altar bearing the coronets of a baron, a viscount, an earl, a duke, and the Prince of Wales, as well as the Seal of the Chancellor, a Speaker’s hat, the fur cap of the Marshal of London, and a freedman’s cap. On the front of the altar is a lengthy inscription in two columns, celebrating the passing of the Act of Parliament commonly referred to as ‘Hogarth’s Act.’ The base of the altar features another inscription, this time the receipt for subscribing: ‘Recd. of 15s being the first Payment for three Prints, representing the Polling for Members of Parliament, Canvassing for Votes, & Chairing ye Members; Which I Promise to deliver when finished, on ye Payment of 16s. & 6d. more. N.B. The Price will be rais’d when the Subscription is over.’