Simon Lord Lovat

Simon Lord Lovat is a significant print created by William Hogarth in 1746. Classified as a print, the work utilizes the precise techniques of etching and engraving to render the portrait. This specific impression is identified as the second state of three, highlighting the meticulous, multi-stage process of 18th-century British printmaking. As one of Hogarth’s famous portraits of notable men, this piece captures a historical moment defined by political tension and upheaval following the final defeat of the Jacobite Rising.

The subject, Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, was a controversial Scottish peer and a key, albeit reluctant, participant in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Hogarth executed the preliminary sketches for this portrait shortly after Lovat’s capture and subsequent journey to London to face trial. The work depicts him as a recognizable, often contradictory figure who was regarded by many as both a cunning politician and a traitor. While the format is that of a traditional portrait of a nobleman, Hogarth often infused his prints with narrative detail and subtle social commentary, reflecting the public fascination with figures facing imminent disgrace.

Hogarth’s prolific artistic output cemented his reputation, and prints like this provided widespread access to his commentary and documentation across society. This image, titled Simon Lord Lovat, remains a powerful historical record of an infamous figure and an example of the satirical artist's mastery of the engraved line. It is held in the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as an excellent example of 18th-century British portraiture. Works of this age and significance are often circulated widely, contributing to the wealth of art available in the public domain for research and study.