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The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.l. Riepenhausen, C. 1794
Skippings Fine Arts
for sale €468     $508
£400
Skippings Fine Arts

Skippings Fine Arts

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The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.l. Riepenhausen, C. 1794

19th century
Description

An wonderful opportunity to acquire the full narrative cycle of William Hogarth’s most famous series, "A Rake’s Progress," complete in eight copperplate engravings by the renowned German master Ernst Ludwig Riepenhausen (1765-1840).

Produced for Georg Christoph Lichtenberg’s celebrated commentaries, these engravings are prized by collectors for their extraordinary clarity. Riepenhausen’s plates often reveal finer details and sharper line-work than the later, more common London editions.

The Complete Narrative (8 Plates):

The Heir (The Rake takes possession of his fortune)

The Levee (Surrounded by artists and fencers)

The Tavern Scene/The Orgy (A masterpiece of satirical detail)

The Arrest (Stopped for debt in St. James's Street)

The Marriage (Marrying for money in Marylebone Church)

The Gaming House (Losing a second fortune)

The Prison (Incarcerated in the Fleet)

The Madhouse (The final descent into Bedlam)

Riepenhausen’s Hogarth engravings are held in global institutions, including the British Museum, the Royal Collection Trust, and the Wellcome Collection.

Presented in honest antique condition, the paper shows varied age-related foxing and humidity spotting, primarily confined to the margins. The central engraved images remain remarkably crisp and dark, maintaining their strong decorative impact.

Critically, the engraved image areas remain bold and crisp. Plate 3, for example, retains superb detail in the "Totus Mundus" map and the broken mirror, showcasing the quality of the strike. Original blank interleaves remain between each plate, ensuring the reverse of the engravings is clean and free from ink transfer or soiling. The prints will frame beautifully.

Also available: The complete companion series 'A Harlot’s Progress' (Portfolio 6) by the same engraver.

Physical Dimensions
Height
38cm (14.96")
Width
27cm (10.63")
Depth
1cm (0.39")
Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this Hogarth Rakes Progress Engraving to the 1800s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1191709
Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description
An wonderful opportunity to acquire the full narrative cycle of William Hogarth’s most famous series, "A Rake’s Progress," complete in eight copperplate engravings by the renowned German master Ernst Ludwig Riepenhausen (1765-1840).
Produced for Georg Christoph Lichtenberg’s celebrated commentaries, these engravings are prized by collectors for their extraordinary clarity.
Skippings Fine Arts

Riepenhausen’s plates often reveal finer details and sharper line-work than the later, more common London editions.

fig 1. An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.
fig 1. The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.l. Riepenhausen, C. 1794

The Complete Narrative (8 Plates):

The Heir (The Rake takes possession of his fortune)

The Levee (Surrounded by artists and fencers)

The Tavern Scene/The Orgy (A masterpiece of satirical detail)

The Arrest (Stopped for debt in St. James's Street)

fig 2. An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.
fig 2. The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.l. Riepenhausen, C. 1794

The Marriage (Marrying for money in Marylebone Church)

The Gaming House (Losing a second fortune)

The Prison (Incarcerated in the Fleet)

The Madhouse (The final descent into Bedlam)

Riepenhausen’s Hogarth engravings are held in global institutions, including the British Museum, the Royal Collection Trust, and the Wellcome Collection.

fig 3. An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.
fig 3. The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.l. Riepenhausen, C. 1794

Presented in honest antique condition, the paper shows varied age-related foxing and humidity spotting, primarily confined to the margins. The central engraved images remain remarkably crisp and dark, maintaining their strong decorative impact.

fig 4. An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.
fig 4. The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.l. Riepenhausen, C. 1794

Critically, the engraved image areas remain bold and crisp. Plate 3, for example, retains superb detail in the "Totus Mundus" map and the broken mirror, showcasing the quality of the strike. Original blank interleaves remain between each plate, ensuring the reverse of the engravings is clean and free from ink transfer or soiling. The prints will frame beautifully.

Also available: The complete companion series 'A Harlot’s Progress' (Portfolio 6) by the same engraver.

Height
38cm (14.96")
Width
27cm (10.63")
Depth
1cm (0.39")
Date of Manufacture

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this Hogarth Rakes Progress Engraving to the 1800s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1191709
Skippings Fine Arts
Skippings Fine Arts
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2018

Modern french & continental pictures selected by a former french auction house expert

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Skippings Fine Arts Profile Page

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An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.
1 / 11
Archive I An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.

The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.l. Riepenhausen, C. 1794

Archive II An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View II
Archive III An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View III
Archive IV An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View IV
Archive V An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View V
Archive VI An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View VI
Archive VII An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View VII
Archive VIII An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View VIII
Archive IX An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View IX
Archive X An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View X
Archive XI An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 0747 257 2398
Location
Norfolk
United Kingdom

By appointment
Verified Since Feb 2018
Items For Sale 168
Items Sold 684
Skippings Fine Arts
Skippings Fine Arts
Verified Since Feb 2018
View Dealer Info
Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, , By appointment
Verified
Feb 2018
For Sale
168
Sold
684
An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.
The Complete "Rake’s Progress" Hogarth – 8 Fine Copper Engravings by E.L. Riepenhausen, c. 1794
Ref: SA1191709
An 18th-century monochrome copperplate engraving depicting a crowded room scene from William Hogarths A Rakes Progress.
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Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Created in the 1730s, A Rakes Progress is a series of eight narrative works depicting the decline of Tom Rakewell, a merchants son who squanders his inheritance. The series became highly influential in British satire and was frequently re-engraved across Europe throughout the 18th century.

Artists used an engraving tool called a burin to incise line compositions directly into a polished copper plate. Ink was applied across the plate, wiped from the surface so it remained only in the grooves, and transferred onto damp paper using a high-pressure rolling press.

Authentic period engravings feature clear plate marks pressed into laid paper, which often contains visible chain lines and watermarks under backlighting. Fine hand-engraved cross-hatching and period plate inscriptions further distinguish authentic 18th-century impressions from modern offset lithographs.

Framed monochrome prints pair well with traditional woodwork, gallery walls, and layered library spaces. Using simple hardwood frames with archival mounts allows historic paper works to integrate into both classic and eclectic modern decor scheme.

Works on paper must be kept away from direct sunlight and framed using UV-protective glass alongside acid-free, conservation-grade matting. Maintaining stable humidity levels prevents foxing, paper warping, and oxidation of historic iron-gall ink.
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