An Emerald Vessel (Aubry de La Mottraye's "Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa...," London, 1724, vol. I, plate 5)

An Emerald Vessel (Aubry de La Mottraye's "Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa...," London, 1724, vol. I, plate 5) by William Hogarth is an important example of the artist's early commissioned illustrative work. Executed between 1723 and 1724, this image is classified as a print, utilizing the combined processes of etching and engraving. The plate was created for the acclaimed travelogue by Aubry de La Mottraye, which provided detailed visual documentation of diverse cultures, artifacts, and landscapes encountered during his extensive global journeys.

This specific illustration focuses on the meticulous depiction of the eponymous vessel, presented here for the benefit of readers who could not witness the artifact directly. The precise line work and careful shading employed by Hogarth demonstrate his growing technical proficiency in handling metal plates, skills which were foundational to his later, more famous narrative series. At this stage of his career, Hogarth relied heavily on such commercial projects to establish himself within the competitive London art scene, particularly in the production of high-quality book illustrations and prints.

These early topographical and documentary prints are invaluable for tracing Hogarth’s transition from a skilled engraver to a leading painter and satirical observer of 18th-century life. The work resides today in the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a widely circulated 18th-century publication plate, the image of An Emerald Vessel is frequently available for study and reference. Because of its age and status, the image often falls into the public domain, ensuring wide accessibility for scholars interested in the history of exploration, illustration, and the evolution of Hogarth's technique.