Plate Seven, from A Rake's Progress

Plate Seven, from A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth English, 1697-1764, is a pivotal image in one of the most famous narrative print series of the 18th century. Executed in 1735, this piece utilizes the detailed techniques of etching and engraving, rendered in rich black ink on ivory laid paper. Hogarth specialized in these sequences, which he termed "modern moral subjects," serving both as sophisticated artistic entertainment and as cautionary tales for the burgeoning middle class in England regarding the dangers of vice and extravagance.

The A Rake's Progress series chronicles the ruinous decline of the fictional heir, Tom Rakewell, from undeserved fortune to utter disaster. As the seventh plate in the sequence, this stage typically depicts the tragic nadir of the protagonist’s fortunes, often showing him incarcerated for debt in the notorious Fleet Prison, a common and humiliating fate during the period. The detailed visual narrative emphasizes the moral cost of luxury and irresponsibility, characteristic of Hogarth’s unflinching social critique.

Hogarth’s masterful ability to combine theatrical high drama with meticulous social observation ensured the immense popularity and widespread replication of these narrative prints during his lifetime. This important work, classified within the Art Institute of Chicago’s renowned prints collection, remains a powerful example of 18th-century graphic satire. High-resolution images of various stages of A Rake's Progress are now frequently accessible through the public domain, allowing continued study of the artist’s groundbreaking narrative structure.