William Hogarth, Paul before Felix, large original print engraved 1752
£65.00
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William Hogarth, Paul before Felix, large original print engraved 1752
£65.00
Size: Sheet 57.5 x 47 cm, print image 51 x 38.5 cm.
Condition: Very good condition. The print is an excellent impression. There are a few fox marks and a water stain to the bottom left corner (see images).
Published: The copy of the print is from the set published by Baldwin Cradock and Joy c1822 from the original plate engraved by Hogarth (often known as the Heath edition).
This large and impressive print is a superb example of William Hogarth's artistic talent, his skills as an engraver and his imagination as an author, all at their height in 1752. Hogarth painted the scene of St Paul before Felix in 1748 under a commission for the decoration of Lincoln's Inn Hall in London. The painting of, and revisions to the painting, and the story of the engraving, are complex, as outlined by Ronald Paulson in Hogarth's Graphic Works 1989, pages 152-156.
In short, Hogarth engraved a version of his own painting which he intended to be Raphaelesque, and in doing so came to the conclusion that the painting was too Rembrandtesque. He then issued another print parodying his own painting (Paul before Felix Burlesqued), and revised the painting, which was then subsequently engraved by Luke Sullivan.
The Sullivan print was the official version issued in 1752, and this version was only issued later (despite the stated publication date of 1752). However, many today would find Hogarth's depiction to be much stronger in terms of character depiction, and Sullivan's to be a little formal in style.
The scene depicted is that in which Paul stood trial before Marcus Antonius Felix, the Roman procurator of Judea Province 52–60. The Acts of the Apostles state that on at least one further occasion Felix and his wife Drusilla heard Paul discourse, and later on frequently sent for Paul and talked with him.
The print is number 192 in Paulson's catalogue raisonné.
A great work of art and attractive large display picture.