4 OF 14

'The Gaols Committee of the House of Commons'

4 of 14 portraits of Sir James Thornhill

by William Hogarth
oil on canvas, circa 1729
20 3/8 in. x 27 1/8 in. (519 mm x 688 mm)
Given by George Howard, 9th Earl of Carlisle, 1892
Primary Collection
NPG 926

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Artistback to top

William Hogarth (1697-1764), Painter and engraver. Artist associated with 125 portraits, Sitter associated with 19 portraits.

Sittersback to top

Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle (1684-1758), Politician. Sitter in 1 portrait.
John Perceval, 1st Earl of Egmont (1683-1748), President of the Trustees of Georgia. Sitter in 8 portraits.
Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753), Collector. Sitter in 5 portraits.
Sir Archibald Grant, 2nd Bt (1696-1778), MP for Aberdeenshire. Sitter in 1 portrait.
William Hucks (died 1740), Brewer and MP for Wallingford. Sitter in 4 portraits.
James Edward Oglethorpe (1696-1785), Founder of Georgia. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Arthur Onslow (1691-1768), Speaker of the House of Commons. Sitter in 13 portraits.
Edward Stables, Clerk of the House of Commons. Sitter in 5 portraits.
Sir James Thornhill (1675 or 1676-1734), Decorative painter and politician; father-in-law of Hogarth. Sitter associated with 14 portraits, Artist associated with 23 portraits.

This portraitback to top

In 1729 a committee of the House of Commons was appointed 'to enquire into the State of the Gaols of this Kingdom'. This scene commemorating the inquiry may be set in the notorious Fleet Prison and is thought to include the humanitarian MP, James Oglethorpe, as chairman, seated on the left, with Lord Onslow and Lord Egmont seated next to him. The figure standing third from the right in the foreground is probably Sir Archibald Grant, the man who commissioned the painting. The prisoner may be the Portuguese Jacob Mendez Solas, one of the first to be imprisoned for debt at the Fleet wearing full irons. Given by the 9th Earl of Carlisle, 1892.