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.
Nous parlons franēais, 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.
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1191709
Dateline of this antique is 1800
Height is 38cm (15.0inches)Width is 27cm (10.6inches)Depth is 1cm (0.4inches)
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