Hogarth

WILLIAM, (hogarth,) a famous humoristic painter, B. in London, 1697, acquired a knowledge of portrait-painting in the studio of Sir James Thorn hill, who became his father-in-law. He, however, soon found his true bent of genius in the portrayal of dramatic scenes representing the English life and manners of his day. Among the finest of these are the several series entitled Marriage à la Mode; The Harlot's Progre ; The Rake's Progre , . The works of H. are so familiar to all through the medium of engravings, that it were superfluous to descant further upon their merits. D. 1754. [s. 457]