THOMAS DENT (BRITISH, B. CIRCA 1740): TWO ENGRAVINGS AFTER HOGARTH, CIRCA 1791

Thomas Dent (British, born ca 1740; fl. late 18th century) after William Hogarth (British, 1697–1764): The Undertakers' Arms and The Laughing Audience (two satirical copperplate engravings), circa 1791, each signed in the plate at lower right "Dent Sculp," plate sizes approx. 3-3/8" x 2-3/4"; each individually matted and framed under glass (later) to an overall size of approximately 11" x 9".

Like many British engravers of the era, Thomas Dent and his partner, John Corbould, did a booming business in engravings "after" (which is to say, often pirated from) the enormously popular images by William Hogarth. The two present examples appear to be from the volumes comprising Hogarth Illustrated by John Ireland (Cheapside: J. & J. Boydell, 1791), for which Dent prepared a number of reductions of Hogarth's works.

The Undertaker's Arms (originally titled by Hogarth The Company of Undertakers) is an irreverent satire of the medical profession, fashioned as a coat of arms with crossed bones at the lower corners and the Latin motto "Et Plurima Mortis Imago" (And Many an Image of Death). The Laughing Audience depicts a gathering of boisterous (and in a few cases, visibly amorous) audience mambers at a live theatrical or musical performance.

An identical Dent impression of Undertakers' Arms is in the Royal Collection Trust; an identical Dent impression of Laughing Audience is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

CONDITION: Light wear to frames; the prints clean, bright, and fine (not examined outside frames).

Fine Art, Works on Paper

15%

Michael Rodman | (313) 719-1181 | neverenoughbooks@outlook.com

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