Parke of the Artillary (Aubry de La Mottraye's "Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa...," London, 1724, vol. II, pl. 26B) is a key early work by William Hogarth, dating to 1723-1724. Executed using the meticulous combination of etching and engraving, this print served as plate 26B in the second volume of Aubry de La Mottraye's highly influential travel account detailing geopolitical observations and explorations. Although Hogarth would soon achieve fame for his celebrated moralizing picture series and satirical prints, much of his foundational career was dedicated to commissioned book illustrations, honing the technical draftsmanship and observational skills evident in this piece.
The illustration depicts a Portraits study, focusing on figures involved with military hardware, potentially within a designated encampment or park setting. The composition includes detailed Profiles of the individuals alongside their Horses, giving the work a functional, documentary quality typical of contemporary travel literature. Unlike the expressive caricatures found in Hogarth’s later independent work, this illustration maintains a precise, almost technical fidelity required for disseminating visual information accompanying complex travel narratives. The inclusion of such detailed military scenes was necessary to contextualize the Maps and logistical descriptions found elsewhere in La Mottraye’s volumes.
As a foundational piece documenting the young Hogarth's progression from technical engraver to celebrated social artist, the work holds significant art historical value within his oeuvre. This print is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Given its status as an influential publication illustration and its age, Parke of the Artillary is widely accessible today, often found among the high-resolution prints offered by major institutions now residing in the public domain.
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