The Beggar's Opera, Act III

The Beggar's Opera, Act III by William Blake, created in 1790, is a finely executed example of printmaking, specifically an engraving. This work draws its inspiration from John Gay’s immensely popular 1728 satirical "ballad opera," a piece that critiqued contemporary political corruption and the conventions of high Italian opera. Blake’s composition captures a key dramatic moment from the conclusion of the play, utilizing the precise nature of the engraving medium to articulate the dramatic tension and detailed staging.

The scene is filled with theatricality, focusing on the interactions between various Men and Women central to the narrative. Spectators crowd the setting, reflecting the widespread popularity of the opera in 18th-century London society. Blake meticulously renders the rich texture of the costumes and the intense emotional expressions of the figures. Notably, the display of a formal Coat of Arms is included, perhaps signifying institutional authority or an aristocratic presence, deliberately contrasting the opera’s low-life subject matter with symbols of high society.

As a significant example of Blake’s early commercial output, this print demonstrates his technical mastery prior to his famed series of illuminated books. The detailed engraving is characteristic of the period's reliance on prints for disseminating imagery and visual records of theatrical productions. This important historical print is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a connection between fine art and popular culture during the late Georgian era.