Hogarth's Works, with life and anecdotal descriptions of his pictures. Volume 2 (of 3)

"Hogarth's Works, with Life and Anecdotal Descriptions of His Pictures" by John Ireland is an exploration of the art and life of William Hogarth, offering detailed observations and moral interpretations of his paintings and engravings. The biography introduces Hogarth’s series “Marriage à la Mode," revealing a story of ambition, moral decay, and tragedy within aristocratic society. The commentary focuses on characters entangled in a web of social climbing and ill-fated decisions to illustrate the consequences of prioritizing wealth over genuine affection. The book presents Hogarth's artistic techniques and cultural context, thus providing a window into the satirical and societal critiques embedded in his art.