Hogarth's Works, with life and anecdotal descriptions of his pictures. Volume 1 (of 3)

audiobook

Hogarth's Works, with life and anecdotal descriptions of his pictures. Volume 1 (of 3)

by John Ireland, John Nichols

EN·~5 hours

Chapters

Description

This volume offers a vivid, illustrated tour of one of England’s most celebrated painters, pairing faithful facsimile reproductions of his plates with lively commentary that brings each scene into everyday context. Compiled by two seasoned scholars, the text weaves together detailed descriptions, biographical sketches, and anecdotal tidbits that reveal the artist’s personality and the stories behind his work, all while preserving the original humor and moral edge that made his prints so popular.

The collection spans a broad spectrum of his output—from early self‑portraits and whimsical studies of his dog, to the morally charged narratives of The Harlot’s Progress and The Rake’s Progress, and bustling street scenes such as Southwark Fair and the Four Times of the Day. Each plate is accompanied by notes that explain the historical background, symbolism, and the social commentary embedded in the imagery, with longer footnotes gathered at the end for deeper exploration.

Ideal for listeners who love art history and vivid storytelling, the audiobook guides you through Hogarth’s world, letting you picture the bustling 18th‑century streets, the follies of his characters, and the sharp eye of a painter who never shied away from exposing the vices and virtues of his time.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~5 hours (314K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Chris Curnow, John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

2016-04-21

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the authors

John Ireland

John Ireland

d. 1808

A London watchmaker turned literary antiquarian, he became best known for preserving William Hogarth’s life and work in books that shaped later understanding of the artist. His writing blends biography, collecting, and 18th-century cultural history.

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John Nichols

John Nichols

1745–1826

A central figure in London’s literary world, this 18th-century printer and editor helped preserve a huge amount of English literary history. He is especially remembered for his wide-ranging historical and biographical works, which remain valuable to researchers today.

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