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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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William Hogarth
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(1697–1764) The first great British-born painter on a grand scale. He was trained as an engraver and it was with detailed realistic scenes, of a kind suitable for engraving, that he made his name. The earliest was his 1728 view (subsequently repeated in several versions) of a scene from London's recent theatrical success, The *Beggar's Opera. In 1731 Hogarth painted A Harlot's Progress (destroyed in a fire in 1755), the first of his characteristic narrative series; it was followed by The *Rake's Progress, Marriage à la Mode (1743–5, National Gallery) and the Election series (1754–5, Sir John *Soane's Museum).
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All these were intended as subjects for engraving, but the piracy of the first series caused him to delay publication of The Rake's Progress until he had promoted, in 1735, an act of parliament protecting copyright; it is still known as Hogarth's Act. There was always a strong moral theme in Hogarth's work, and his engraving of the effects of cheap *gin led to immediate legislation. His house in west London, at Chiswick, is kept as a museum.
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