A Rake's Progress, Plate 5

A Rake's Progress, Plate 5 by William Hogarth, executed in 1735, is a central image in the artist’s seminal narrative series charting the moral and financial decline of Tom Rakewell. Created using the sophisticated techniques of etching and engraving, this impression represents the highly refined third state of the print, showcasing Hogarth's exceptional skill in rendering detailed interior environments and expressive human figures. Hogarth, a foundational figure in 18th-century English art, utilized prints to distribute his moralizing subjects widely to the public.

This particular scene captures the desperate attempt by the protagonist to repair his ruined finances through an opportunistic marriage. The setting is the cramped, humble interior of St. Marylebone church. The composition is dominated by the ill-matched wedding party, where a desperate Rakewell weds an elderly, one-eyed woman for her money. Hogarth masterfully fills the scene with supporting characters that emphasize the sham nature of the ceremony. Prominent among the figures are the attending men and women, whose expressions range from contempt to morbid fascination.

The youthful presence of church boys, contrasted with the aging bride and jaded clergyman, heightens the satirical tension. Even the bored dogs in the foreground serve as visual commentary on the proceedings. As with the other plates in the series, this work functions both as vivid social commentary and as a cautionary tale on dissipation. This historically significant print is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a vital example of 18th-century graphic satire, widely available today as part of the public domain.