Illustrations for Gildon’s Bew Metamorphosis

William Hogarth
Seven Illustrations for Gildon’s New Metamorphosis.
London, Samuel Briscoe March 1723-4
Copper engravings
150x80mm
Slight marginal dust staining
Set of three plates £180
Three only from the complete set of Seven illustrations for The New Metamorphosis: Or Pleasant Transformation of the Golden Ass of Lucius Apuleius of Madaura….Altered and Improved to the Modern Times and Manners; exposing the secret Follies and Vices of Maids, Wives and Widows; Nuns, Fryars and Jesuits; Statesmen and Courtiers &c. The first edition had appeared in 1708 and the author Charles Gildon had modernized Apuleius by replacing his spy, the ass, with a ‘fine Bologna lap-dog (Fantasio) which is more readily admitted to the Closets, Cabinets and Bedchambers of the Fair and Great than an Ass’. Paulson 45-51 final states.