SOANE MUSEUM, Hogarth First Part

And now take some time to admire the pièce de résistance of the collection: William Hogarth's paintings located in a separate, isolated room.

Hogarth was the founder of the English pictorial school of the 1700s and one of the most original and captivating artists of history for his skill in creating satirical scenes that you'll find surprisingly modern. Here you can admire the two canvas cycles that are considered his greatest masterpieces: the four scenes depicting the intrigues of a political campaign, and above all the eight episodes of A Rake's Progress, which dates back to the first half of the 18th century. Here Hogarth is a moody, ironic, and above all independent, narrator, free from any suggestions, prejudices, or patterns.

One by one, I will describe these small to medium-sized paintings that are regardless full of details: I suggest you study them for a long time, trying to discover their many bizarre secrets....