Bedcover

The Bedcover, created between 1780 and 1790, is a remarkable English textile that illustrates the continued influence of the great satirist, Engraved by William Hogarth (English, 1697–1764). This piece utilizes fine copperplate printed designs applied to plain weave cotton. The motifs themselves originated as illustrations by Samuel Butler, a source Hogarth frequently referenced for his popular graphic works and etchings.

The construction of this substantial textile is complex, built from two and a half panels that have been joined, edged, backed with cotton, and carefully quilted, demonstrating sophisticated production methods characteristic of late 18th-century England. Though Hogarth died in 1764, the enduring commercial popularity of his designs ensured their reuse across various media. The application of copperplate printing allowed the fine detail normally reserved for paper prints to be transferred directly onto the cotton, making sophisticated imagery accessible for domestic use.

This integration of renowned fine art engraving into everyday domestic objects highlights the era's widespread consumption of visual culture derived from artists like Hogarth. The original engravings, now commonly considered public domain, served as templates for transfer onto the fabric decades after their initial creation. The finished work, providing a unique insight into cross-media production in England, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.