Simon Lord Lovat

Simon Lord Lovat is a striking etching created by William Hogarth in 1746. This highly successful print falls squarely within the British cultural period of 1726 to 1750, a volatile era immediately following the final, disastrous Jacobite rising. Hogarth, renowned for his moral series and sharp satirical eye, utilized the speed and reach of the print medium to capture and comment upon a figure of profound national interest. The rapid dissemination of such images underscores the crucial role graphic arts played in 18th-century news and political discourse.

The work portrays Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat, a notorious Jacobite chieftain and political opportunist who was captured shortly after the Battle of Culloden. Lovat was known for his cunning and shifting allegiances, and his trial was a major public spectacle. Hogarth’s rendering, while technically a portrait, infuses the subject with Hogarth’s characteristic visual commentary, often combining realistic depiction with elements of caricature. Lovat is shown seated, heavy and seemingly infirm, perhaps a calculated performance of vulnerability designed to elicit sympathy before his ultimate execution.

Classified strictly as a print, the medium of etching allowed Hogarth to achieve line quality that was both precise and expressive. The immediacy of the finished work capitalized on the intense public appetite for images of high-profile political figures nearing judgment. This specific historical document, widely reproduced in the 18th century, serves as both a historical record and an early example of celebrity portraiture tailored for mass consumption.

This significant piece of British graphic history is maintained within the collection of the National Gallery of Art. As a major work by Hogarth, a master of 18th-century graphic arts, the enduring legacy of Simon Lord Lovat ensures that prints related to this masterwork are frequently made available through historical archives and public domain collections worldwide.