A Rake's Progress, Plate 2

A Rake's Progress, Plate 2 is a powerful etching and engraving created by William Hogarth in 1735. This print belongs to Hogarth’s influential narrative series detailing the swift moral and financial collapse of the wealthy heir, Tom Rakewell. Documented here as the fourth state of four, this impression reflects the final, refined composition achieved through the complex printmaking process.

Known as the "Levee Scene" or "Morning Scene," Plate 2 captures Rakewell attempting to embrace the sophisticated lifestyle of a London gentleman following his unexpected inheritance. Hogarth portrays the newly rich protagonist surrounded by a chaotic assortment of men and women professional parasites eager to capitalize on his fortune. The composition is a detailed satire on 18th-century social aspiration, featuring various schemers, including a fencing master, a jockey, and musicians.

The depiction of the musicians, poised among a scattering of musical instruments, highlights the superficiality of Rakewell’s patronage and the disorder of his household. The surrounding crowd of men and women demonstrates Hogarth’s critique of the vanity and poor judgment inherent in fashionable London life. In this scene, Rakewell is advised by figures whose expertise is often questionable, reinforcing the theme of moral decay central to the narrative.

This historical print exemplifies Hogarth’s mastery of graphic art and his commitment to visual storytelling as a form of social commentary. The work remains an essential example of British satire from the Georgian era. The original prints reside in prestigious institutional collections, including this superb example held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, due to the work’s age and historical significance, reproductions of these iconic prints are frequently available through public domain resources, ensuring continued study of Hogarth’s groundbreaking output.