A Rake's Progress, Plate 2

Date1735

Painter and engraver William Hogarth (1697 - 1764)

Secondary Maker Louis Gerard Scotin

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching and line engraving on laid paper

DimensionsOverall: 17 3/4 × 23in. (45.1 × 58.4cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1967-566,2

DescriptionLower margin reads: "Invented &c by W.m Hogarth & Publish'd according to Act of Parliament June y.e 25. 1735./ Plate 2.d/ Propensity, (with Harlot's smiles,/ Most pleasing, when she most beguiles.)/ How soon, Sweet foe, can all thy Train/ Of false, gay, frantick, loud & vain,/ Enter unprovided Mind,/ And Memory in fetters bind;/ Load faith and Love with golden chain,/ And sprinkle Lethe o're the Brain!/ Pleasure on her silver Throne/ Smiling comes, nor comes alone;/ Venus moves with her along,/ And smooth Lyaeus, ever young;/ And in their Train, to fill the Press,/ Come apish Dance, and swolen Excess,/ Mechanic Honour, vicious Taste, And fashion in her changing Vest../"
Label TextThis is the second scene of one of William Hogarth's most popular "Modern Moral Subjects”: " A Rake's Progress." With the popularity of ‘A Harlot's Progress,' he commenced selling subscriptions in late 1733, but the prints were not completed until June 1735. Part of this delay was the passage of the Engraver's Act, which was designed to prevent pirating of engraver's works. Hogarth waited until the act took effect on June 25th, 1735 - the date engraved on the prints - to publish the series. Despite his careful planning, pirated copies appeared on the market in early June apparently based on Hogarth's original paintings for the set, now in the collection of Sir John Soane's Museum.

The second plate of Hogarth's series "A Rake's Progress" shows Tom Rakewell's meteoric rise as a stylish heir spending his newly acquired fortune. Evidence of his lavish spending is indicated by his acquisition of artwork, fine clothing, and newly improved space. A poet, a garden designer (allegedly Charles Bridgeman, gardener to King George I and King George II), a musician (possibly Hogarth's enemy, Handel), a jockey, a poet, a dancing master, a fencing instructor, and a tailor all vie for his attention and patronage.

This is state five of the print. Though printed from Hogarth's original copperplate (with some strengthening), this print is part of the Boydell edition published after 1790. Hogarth's copperplates were re-used after his death by his widow, Jane until her death in 1789. They were sold to the print publishers John and Josiah Boydell who published until the Boydell sale in 1818. In 1822, James Heath was in possession of the plates and published at least four bound editions of the plates. For more, see Ronald Paulson, Hogarth's Graphic Works, Third Revised Edition (London: Print Room, 1989), pp. 20-21.

For more of the set see 1967-556, 1-8. For the authorized copy of this print see 1986-22 by Thomas Bakewell.