Scholars at a Lecture.

William Hogarth

Scholars at a Lecture.

London, J & J Boydell ca 1806

Copper engraving

220x185mm

£200

From the collection of George Morant, (1770 – 1846) of 95 Wimpole St, London. A very fine set on mostly uncut sheets kept loose in a folio. Carefully printed and in very good condition.

Morant was a collector and Founder of a business of paper hangers, carvers, gilders and picture frame makers.

The company had offices at 88 Old Bond St,  from 1814, and was appointed as ‘house decorator, carver, gilder & picture-frame-maker to His Majesty’. From 1832 he was appointed again by Her majesty Queen Victoria

A scene in an Oxford University lecture hall. A crowd of ugly, foolish  looking students listen to the lecturer, who reads from a large ledger headed Datur Vacuum, meaning ‘Leisure time is given for…’ and is a pun on the vacant expressions of the auditors. The lecturer is supposed to be William Fisher of Jesus College, Registrar of the University, who agreed to be drawn by Hogarth. Paulson 143 II/III.