A Rake's Progress, Plate 2

"A Rake's Progress, Plate 2" by William Hogarth, executed in 1735, is a significant example of 18th-century English satirical prints. This work, classified as a print, utilizes the complex techniques of etching and engraving, representing the third state of four revisions created by the artist. The complete eight-plate series chronicles the moral and financial ruin of its protagonist, Tom Rakewell.

In this specific installment, Rakewell, having inherited a substantial fortune, holds a lavish morning reception, or levee, a scene intended to parody traditional aristocratic patronage. Hogarth fills the composition with a diverse group of Men seeking favor and Women engaged in various transactions. The scene satirizes Rakewell’s attempts to cultivate culture while demonstrating his lack of genuine artistic taste. He surrounds himself with a cast of sycophantic characters, including a landscape gardener, a fencing master, and a composer.

A central element of the satire is the depiction of several Musical Instruments and figures associated with the arts. A composer sits at a keyboard, while other individuals examine sketches and artistic paraphernalia, symbolizing the misguided pursuits of the newly wealthy rake eager to imitate his betters. Hogarth’s masterful use of line and detailed composition critiques the social mobility, vanity, and consumerism prevalent in Georgian London.

This piece is held in the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key reference for studying 18th-century graphic satire. As one of Hogarth's most recognizable works, the narrative power of A Rake's Progress ensured its longevity, cementing the artist’s reputation as a master storyteller. Today, copies and later impressions of these influential prints are widely accessible, with high-quality reproductions often found in the public domain.