Collection Spotlight | Hogarth's Modern Morals
Collection Spotlight:
Hogarth’s Modern Morals
Featured Artist:
William Hogarth (1697-1764)
Time Period: 18th Century
Medium: Engraving and Etching
Overview
Explore the biting satire and social commentary of 18th-century London through the modern moral stories of William Hogarth. Hogarth’s engravings, including his famous series A Harlot’s Progress, reveal the consequences of vice and the challenges of urban life, blending humor with moral lessons.
Featured Works from the Martin Museum’s Collection
- Plates from A Harlot’s Progress; 18th Century James Heath Edition, 1822-1837, First edition published 1732.
Target Audiences
- Art history and visual culture courses
- English literature courses (18th-century context)
- Social studies and history courses exploring 18th-century urban life
- Fashion Design and Theater courses
Key Themes
- Satire, social critique, and fashion
- Vice, morality, and societal expectations
- Urban life in 18th-century London
- Narrative Art and Storytelling in Printmaking
- Origins of copywrite laws in England
Booking Details
- Duration: 45–60 minutes
- Audience: Available for high school, university-level, and special interest groups
- Includes: Guided discussion and close viewing of selected works
- How to Book: Select this Collection Spotlight when submitting your group tour request.
Spotlight Brief Educator Packet: Pre-Visit Background Reading Educator Packet: Pre-Visit Materials Educator Packet: Post-Visit Materials Student Quiz Collection Images