Off to the Whitworth Gallery to soak up more Hogarth info for Gary's essay. I don't have much time for the Whitworth, it's one of those art galleries where you have a room the size of an AIRCRAFT HANGER with six exhibits in it. But deadlines call, so here I am staring at Hockneys and Hogarths, with The Rake's Progress as a common theme.
Looking at the genuine Hogarth engravings, you immediataly spot details that weren't obvious on the pages of a book - they are so much clearer. I noticed that Hogarth's dog is paying court to a one - eyed bitch in plate 5, mirroring the rake as he marries an ugly old bag for her money. Never noticed it before.
Hockney's comparison doesn't hold with Hogarth's rake, though, because he hasn't died in debt and ignominy. Yet.
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