A Rake's Progress, Plate 3

A Rake's Progress, Plate 3 by William Hogarth, created in 1735, is a significant example of 18th-century narrative satire, forming the central visual climax of his cautionary series. This print was executed using the demanding techniques of etching and engraving, presented here in the final, third state of three. Hogarth meticulously crafted this sequential work to depict the moral decay of the profligate heir, Tom Rakewell, providing a scathing social commentary on the dangers of inherited wealth and unchecked vice in Georgian London.

The scene depicted in this plate is often referred to as the "Tavern Scene" or "The Orgy," where Rakewell, surrounded by various men and women of ill repute, squanders his inheritance in a wild party. The composition is intentionally crowded with visual details that reinforce Hogarth’s critique of the excesses associated with high society parties. The atmosphere is chaotic, utilizing drunken and dissolute figures, overturned furniture, and numerous symbolic elements illustrating the fleeting nature of pleasure and money. Through this depiction of debauchery, Hogarth critiques the societal norms that allowed such moral slippage among the wealthy elite.

The detailed line work characteristic of 18th-century prints ensures that the chaotic atmosphere of the public house is visceral. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this impression of A Rake's Progress, Plate 3 as part of its distinguished collection of early British prints, acknowledging its historical and artistic importance. While original impressions are carefully preserved in institutional collections, the enduring popularity and cultural significance of Hogarth’s narrative means that high-resolution scans of these works often enter the public domain, allowing global access to one of the most influential satirical sequences of the period.