Hogarth, William (1697 London 1764). Southwark Fair. The London fair with its populous colorful scene. Engraving by Thomas Cook (ca. 1744 – London 1818). Inscribed: Designed by Wm. Hogarth / Engraved by T. Cook / Published April 1^st. 1796, by G. G. & J. Robinson, Paternoster Row, London., title as before. 37.4 x 47.5 cm.

Hogarth Catalog Tate Gallery, 1971/72, 74 (the 1733 oil) along with ills.; H. Catalog Zurich, 1983, 20 (H’s engraving of 1734 in reverse) with ills. – As subscription ticket Subskriptionsbeleg served suggestively “The Laughing Audience”.

of the exposition “Come in, Come in – Fair’s Prints from Three Centuries” of the Puppet Show Collection Munich of 1975/76. See no. 2 of the exhibition catalog along with double full-page ills. pp. 52/53.

“ This first sheet by Hogarth of larger consequence, which he himself attached importance also still later, giving the depiction of one of those fairs which in England in the beginning of the new time were still of importance for the trade, but already in the last half of the 17^th century served only as motive for amusement of the lower-classes, which is usually the case on such occasions.

But it also don’t lack at tragedy … especially in front at ‘Bajazet’s  Fall’ (see below), at that time a famous heroe on the national theatres … played by the way by Cibber and Bullock …, by a company which circumstances a (deliciously illustrated) signboard with the headline

The  Stage  Mutiny

( the  players  rebellion  from  Drury  Lane  with  Theophilus  Cibber

at  the  head , from  which  the  Haymarket  Theatre  formed )

still more detailed comments …

At a large kiosk … dramatical performances are promised by comedy-bills and executed, too, … A heroic piece likewise is in the process of the show, the siege of Troy …

The main thing on the sheet naturally formed the crowd. Also here a troupe of comedians is noticeable which first makes known its performance under beat of the drum and trumpet-blast. The drum is played by a beauty … This shall be the portrait of an actress from a similar company of players. As it is told once Hogarth had mixed with the crowd on a Southwark Fair and saw how a pretty street comedian was maltreated by her director. The spectacle was so awkward to him that he directly gave a lecture of gallentry with the riding-whip to the director. But the girl pleased him so much that he draw her and later placed on this picture ”

(Lichtenberg).

Arthistorical  hub

however, is the own fall of the future Haymarket ensemble, and in such a way unintentionally life playing just “The Fall of Bajazet”, from its wooden stage established raisedly above the crowd into the goods of a porcelain shop.  And  in  doing  so , full  of  symbolism , showing  leg . In this case that of a beauty. A leg with past and future. For

“ The actress’s flailing legs among the timbers of the stage … recall  Bruegel’s ‘Fall of the Magician’’ (rather than the work by Coypel which is sometimes suggested.)

This  passage  in  the  ‘ Southwark  Fair ’

… may have suggested the similar detail in Plate 30 of  Goya’s ‘Disaster of War’ ”

(Lawrence Gowing im Katalog der Tate Gallery).

Splendid  impression  of  finest  chiaroscuro

of this unrepeatable sheet, in the same direction to Hogarth’s engraving, on strong paper. Cook “made a name for himself as Hogarth engraver, too” (Thieme-Becker), whose original size he maintained in contrast to all later Hogarth editions. – The wide white margin with a quite weak water-streak above right.
Offer no. 7,555 / EUR  614. / Export price EUR  583. (c. US$ 937.) + shipping

– – – The  Same  in  Cook’s  smaller  repetition , in same direction to the oil. Inscribed: Hogarth pinxt. / T. Cook sculpt. / Published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, July 1^st. 1807., title as above. Subject size 14 x 17 cm.

Trimmed within the wide white margin, two sides of which, relatively three, in its outer parts weakly brownspotted.
Offer no. 8,925 / EUR  151. (c. US$ 243.) + shipping

„ Just received the James Figg item safely today. I have a couple questions. Art in general is new to me so I‘m asking you to educate me on this item … First of all I‘m happy with the item, just trying to understand it better … Thanks again “

(Mr. A. C., March 27, 2008)