William Hogarth – Seven Illustrations for Gildon’s New Metamorphosis.
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.
William Hogarth
William Hogarth, (born November 10, 1697, London, England—died October 26, 1764, London). The first great English-born artist to attract admiration abroad. Best known for his MORAL and satirical engravings and paintings—e.g., A Rake’s Progress (eight scenes,1733).
His attempts to build a reputation as a history painter and portraitist, however, met with financial disappointment. His aesthetic theories had more influence in Romantic literature than in painting.
