Hogarths London Arts
Many visitors to London are aware of Hogarth and his amazing works ranging from art to satire and engraving. As a result it is no shock that many are interested in visiting his home and seeing where he lived, his influence, and surroundings. This is a wonderful place to visit for schoolchildren, tourists, and even London locals looking for something new.
The home was built somewhere around 1700 and Hogarth moved there in 1749. He lived there until his death in 1764. This was the country home of the painter and it was the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and his city house that is located in the area that is known today as Leicester Square.
Back when Hogarth lived in this home it was located on the edge of Chiswick, an old village that was located close to the Thames River. It was convenient for Hogarth to arrive to his country home via road or boat, depending on what suited him best. The home has high brick walls that surrounds the garden and to this day contains the great Hogarth’s mulberry tree and that keep out the load noises from the modern system of roads. Just imagine how peaceful and quiet the home was hundreds of years ago when there was no loud traffic to keep out!
Hogarth did not enjoy this country home all alone. In fact, he shared it with his wife, sister, and even his mother-in-law. Upon Hogarth’s death the house was not vacated but quite the contrary. The home was habited by his wife for an additional 25 years until she herself passed away in 1789.
You may be a huge Hogarth fan or else you may know nothing about him. The following information is a brief refresher of Hogarth history so you can know just a little bit about the man when you visit his home. This will give you a new kind of insight into who he was and why he was a famous artist. You can tell by the many displays in the house what interested Hogarth, which were actually many things that ranged significantly. Hogarth was against people who thought they were better than others. He abhorred pretension, injustice, or those who were snobby. He could not stand how the poor were degraded and made to suffer simply because they did not have enough money. In fact, one of his most famous pieces of art known as Gin Lane represented 18th century London slum life in all its worst elements. Beer Street, the counterpart to this piece of work that is considerably less known, showed a major change in the appearance of the area should the poor drink beer as opposed to gin. It was an interesting take on slum life and actually one that might have proved true should the poor change from gin to beer.
The Foundling Hospital for abandoned and orphaned children by Captain Coram was supported by Hogarth. Because of all of his work and efforts with the hospital the first public art gallery resulted in London. Visitors made contributions and donations, which went directly to the support of the hospital. Another concern of Hogarth, which few people during this time frame were actually concerned with, was the mistreatment of animals. He even discussed the issue in one of his prints, The Four Stages of Cruelty.
When you visit the house you will be able to tour two floors and above all you will be able to view the largest collection of Hogarth’s prints that are displayed permanently. The rooms, which are paneled, also have some 18th century furniture, replica of course, to add to the aura of the home. The home was rescued in 1904 by Lieutenant-Colonel Shipway who turned the home into a museum honoring Hogarth and his works. There is also a gallery in the kitchen that has displays that change occasionally.
The home was given to the Middlesex County Council in 1909 by Shipway and was then passed to the Hounslow Council in 1965. In 1996 and 1997 the home was refurbished in remembrance of the three hundredth anniversary of Hogarth’s birth.
David Garrick, a friend of Hogarth and an actor, was responsible for the inscription on Hogarth’s tomb. His tomb is right by the River Thames. There is also a statue of Hogarth and his pug that sits opposite of the junction of Turnham Green Terrace and Chiswick High Road.
The Hogarth home is open Tuesday through Friday from 1 pm until 5 pm during the months of April through October and 1 pm until 4 pm during the months of November through March, except for January. Saturdays and Sundays the home is open from1 pm until 6 pm in the months of April through October and 1 pm until 5 pm November through March except January. The Hogarth home is closed on Mondays, except for bank holidays, Good Friday, Boxing Day, and Christmas. The home is closed the entire month of January. Admission is free for everyone.
Visit the Hogarth home by taking the Turnham Green tube, on the District Line, and then walk about 1 kilometer to the home.
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