William Hogarth

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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William Hogarth

by Louis François Roubiliac
terracotta bust, circa 1741
28 1/2 in. x 17 3/4 in. (724 mm x 452 mm) overall
Purchased, 1861
Primary Collection
NPG 121

On display in Room 9 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery

Sitterback to top

  • William Hogarth (1697-1764), Painter and engraver. Sitter associated with 19 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 128 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Louis François Roubiliac (1702-1762), Sculptor. Artist or producer associated with 13 portraits, Sitter associated with 5 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This spectacular portrait bust perfectly captures Hogarth's strength of character, individuality and dynamism. The French sculptor and Hogarth's friend, Roubiliac settled permanently in London, finding patronage among the high number of citizens who wanted to sit for their portrait. More detailed information on this portrait is available in a National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue, John Kerslake's Early Georgian Portraits (1977, out of print).

Linked publicationsback to top

Events of 1741back to top

Current affairs

Motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Robert Walpole is followed by a general election. Walpole's majority is reduced to less than twenty and he suffers defeat in seven divisions.
Opening of the Foundling Hospital, London, to aid homeless and abandoned children.

Art and science

Lancelot 'Capability' Brown is appointed head gardener at Stowe, where he works with the architect William Kent.
Actor David Garrick makes his debut on the London stage in Richard III.
Henry Fielding publishes An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews satirising Samuel Richardson's best-selling novel Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded.

International

War of the Austrian Succession: Admiral Edward Vernon leads an unsuccessful attack on Spanish stronghold of Cartagena. Frederick II's Prussian army defeats the Austrians at Mollwitz, securing his hold on most of Silesia. French and Bavarian forces enter Prague.
Composer Johann Sebastian Bach publishes his set of Goldberg Variations, supposedly written for performance by the young harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg.

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