Martin Folkes

The print Martin Folkes was created by the renowned English artist William Hogarth in 1742. This detailed work is a formal portrait of the eminent English antiquarian and mathematician, Martin Folkes (1690-1754), a distinguished figure who served as the President of the Royal Society from 1741 to 1753. The work utilizes the combined media of etching and engraving, techniques that allowed Hogarth to achieve both the expressive depth of etched lines and the crisp precision of the burin. This specific impression is cataloged as the fourth and final state of four, reflecting the iterative process of refinement and correction on the copper plate.

Hogarth was celebrated for his moral and often satirical narrative paintings, but he was equally skilled in producing penetrating individual portraits of prominent men. The creation of highly finished prints was essential to the artist’s commercial success and allowed for the widespread dissemination of images of intellectual and public figures across 18th-century England. The composition emphasizes the subject’s dignity and intellectual standing, consistent with the traditions of British portraiture during the Age of Enlightenment.

This masterwork of graphic art, Martin Folkes, is held in the distinguished collection of prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hogarth’s prints are foundational to the study of 18th-century British art history and continue to be highly influential. Because the original work is well-known and preserved, prints of this significant portrait are widely available, securing its status as a vital part of the public domain’s artistic record.