Hogarth's ‘Modern Moral History’ paintings, such as “The Harlot's Progress” had proved very popular and had provided him with some measure of financial security and fame, but his ambition was to be a ‘great art’ painter — That is, a recognised painter of grand themes of an historical, religious or classical nature considered worthy and acceptable by the art critics—helping to place artists on a level with moral philosophers and epic poets in stature. Part of his attempt to attain recognition as such, led to his production of the paintings on the staircase at St Bartholomew's Hospital in 1736–37, paintings which are still admired today.
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References
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BurkeJ.Autobiographical Notes form ‘Analysis of Beauty’, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1955.
2.
IrelandJ.Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth, 1781, p.30.
3.
Key at the site of the painting, which offers twentieth century diagnoses of the afflicted, (left to right):.
4.
Cretinism (Hypothyroidism).
5.
Chlorosis.
6.
Blindness.
7.
Jaundice.
8.
Gout.
9.
Mastitis.
10.
Rickets.
11.
Myotonia Congenita.
12.
Congenital syphilis (baby).
13.
Gonorrhoea — Gonococceal arthritis.
14.
Carcinomatosis.
15.
De RachitideGlisson Frances, trans. by NicholasCulpepper: Glisson on Rickets, London, 1668.
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FrekeJohn. Of the Rickets, Section II of An Essay on the Art of Healing, 1748.
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FrekeJohn. ‘Of Tumours proceeding from the Melancholy’, Section XIII of An Essay on the Art of Healing, 1748.
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Sydenham. ‘A Treatise of the Gout and Dropsie’, from The Whole Works. p.340.
