Hogarth, William (1697 London 1764). Sleeping Congregation. Sunday’s divine service in the countryside. The contrast to the divine service of the Methodists – Credulity, Superstition and Fanaticism – could hardly be bigger. Engraving by Thomas Cook (c. 1744 – London 1818). (1795-1803.) Inscribed: Designed by W. Hogarth, title as before. 30.4 x 20.8 cm.

Wonderful impression with the chiaroscuro especially important here as symbolizing the divine sphere. Beyond that – contrary to all later Hogarth editions – in the original size. – Cook “made a name for himself as Hogarth engraver, too” (Thieme-Becker). – On the right trimmed within the platemark, otherwise wide-margined.

“ In the sheet here Hogarth mocks at the English High Church by depicting the effect which results from the way to preach handed down to their priests of old … (This) himself, the sexton and two old women are the only ones awake … In the opposite pew five peasants lie in deepest rest … ”

(Lichtenberg). – Illustration
Offer no. 7,559 / EUR  176. (c. US$ 245.) + shipping

– – – The same in Hogarth’s own etching in extremely wide-margined impression supposedly from the plate reworked by the royal engraver James Heath (1757 London 1834) about 1822

(“Even these impressions became relatively rare today though”, Art Gallery Esslingen 1970; and Meyers Konv.-Lex., 4^th ed., VIII [1888], 625: “A fine edition”). Inscribed: Invented Engraved & Published October 26: 1736 by W^m. Hogarth Pursuant to an Act of Parliament. / Retouched & Improved April 21 1762 by the Author. 26.7 x 21 cm.
Offer no. 7,730 / EUR  84. (c. US$ 117.) + shipping

– – – The same in Cook’s smaller repetition. Inscribed: Hogarth pinx^t. / T. Cook sculp^t. / Published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, Jan^y. 1^st. 1809., otherwise as above. 17 x 13.5 cm.
Offer no. 8,927 / EUR  44. (c. US$ 61.) + shipping

– – – The same in engraving by Carl Heinrich Rahl (Hoffenheim 1779 – Vienna 1843). (1818/23.) Inscribed: 60. 22 x 16.9 cm.
Offer no. 12,374 / EUR  50. (c. US$ 70.) + shipping

– – – The same in engraving by Ernst Ludwig Riepenhausen (1765 Göttingen 1840, university engraver there). Inscribed: 60. / W. Hogarth pinx. / R. f. 20.7 x 17.1 cm. – Impression on especially buff paper, supposedly about 1850. – Riepenhausen’s engravings after Hogarth (“very estimable”, Nagler) belong to his chief work and not least for their side-correctness they are partly even preferred to Hogarth’s own engravings.
Offer no. 12,375 / EUR  61. (c. US$ 85.) + shipping

– – – The same by Riepenhausen as before, but on slightly toned minor paper.
Offer no. 14,441 / EUR  50. (c. US$ 70.) + shipping

– – – The same in lithography by C. F. Heintz. (1833/36.) Inscribed: 48. / Lith. v. C. F. Heintz. / Die schlafende Versammlung. 23.1 x 14.5 cm. – Extensive subtext à la Lichtenberg in German.
Offer no. 12,376 / EUR  59. (c. US$ 82.) + shipping

– – – The same in steel engraving about 1840. 15.8 x 11.6 cm. – Title in German + English.
Offer no. 12,377 / EUR  30. (c. US$ 42.) + shipping

“ The prints arrived safely. What is your return policy? My boss, doesn’t like the images, which I understand is subjective (– probably in reaction on the 11^th September –) and no reflection on the condition or any representations you made. Sorry to bother you with this ”

(Mrs. A. P., September 26, 2001)