A Chorus of Singers, or The Oratorio

A Chorus of Singers, or The Oratorio, created by William Hogarth in 1732, is a masterful example of eighteenth-century British printmaking. Executed as an etching, this print represents the third and final state of the composition, indicating the artist’s meticulous refinement of the plate for mass production and distribution. The scene depicts a densely packed stage during a public performance, serving as a trenchant visual satire on the often-chaotic and uncoordinated reality of formal musical events in London society.

Hogarth specialized in capturing the vices and follies of contemporary life, and this piece focuses its critique on the vanity of amateurism among singers. The composition is overflowing with figures, both men and women, all struggling to maintain composure and tune. The musician at the center appears overwrought, while the various singers exhibit exaggerated and often comical expressions, reflecting the strain and disharmony inherent in their performance. This visual chaos directly challenges the solemnity expected of an oratorio, transforming the high-brow event into a spectacle of human imperfection.

This print powerfully demonstrates Hogarth's ability to combine detailed portraiture with moralizing social commentary. The use of etching allowed the artist’s satirical observations to reach a broad audience, making works like A Chorus of Singers, or The Oratorio highly influential in shaping public perception of contemporary culture. This significant print is held in the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key document for the study of 18th-century graphic arts and the social history of music.