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The Marriage Settlement (Primary Title)
Marriage A La Mode (Series Title)

William Hogarth, English, 1697 - 1764 (Artist)

1745
English
Works On Paper
Prints
engraving on heavy laid paper
European Art
Sheet (trimmed to plate line): 15 1/4 × 18 3/8 in. (38.74 × 46.67 cm)
Image: 14 × 17 3/8 in. (35.56 × 44.13 cm)
Mat: 20 × 24 in. (50.8 × 60.96 cm)
67.32.1
Not on view
Here, Earl Squander (seated at left) is finalizing the marriage of his son (far right) to the daughter of a city merchant. Hobbled by gout, he holds a copy of his extensive family tree, and the lavish mansion that he is currently building (presumably funded by the proceeds from the dowry) is visible out the window. The young bride leans in to listen to the lawyer, Silvertongue, who has drawn up the contracts. This print gains extra satirical bite through the ironic placement of the pretentious artwork decorating the house of Squander.
Printed beneath image, lower left: "Invented Painted & Published by Wm. Hogarth"; lower right: "Engraved by G. Scotin/ According to Act of Parliament April 1st. 1745"; lower center: "Marriage A-la-Mode, Plate I." Inscribed in graphite on verso: "Paulson 228 IV ?/ 6" and another illegible inscription.
The Council Graphic Arts Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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