Procession through the Hippodrome, Constantinople (Aubry de La Mottraye's "Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa...," London, 1724, vol. I, plate 15)

Procession through the Hippodrome, Constantinople (Aubry de La Mottraye's "Travels throughout Europe, Asia and into Part of Africa...," London, 1724, vol. I, plate 15) is an important early commercial print by William Hogarth, executed between 1723 and 1724. The etching and engraving served as plate 15 for the first volume of Aubry de La Mottraye’s renowned travelogue, a widely circulated text documenting the author's journeys through the Ottoman Empire. This piece exemplifies the 18th-century European fascination with documentation of foreign cultures and the exotic urbanism of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

Hogarth meticulously details the expansive ancient Hippodrome, capturing the spectacle of the event. The composition is structured around monumental classical elements, emphasizing surviving landmarks such as the prominent Egyptian obelisks and surrounding buildings. The dramatic scene is populated by numerous human figures engaged in the procession, offering a detailed glimpse into Ottoman life and military hierarchy during the early 1700s.

While Hogarth is primarily recognized for his subsequent moralizing paintings and narrative prints, his early illustrative commissions, such as this work, were crucial in developing his skill as a draftsman and engraver. The technical precision required for the etching and engraving medium showcases the emerging talents of the British artist before he achieved wider fame. This impression of Procession through the Hippodrome, Constantinople is part of the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, providing valuable insight into the production of high-quality prints within 18th-century European publishing.