Scholars at a Lecture
March 3, 1736
Medium
Etching and engraving; state two of two
Dimensions
sheet: 9 3/16 x 7 11/16 in. (23.4 x 19.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Sarah Lazarus, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.35
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Scholars at a Lecture created by William Hogarth on March 3, 1736, is a witty etching and engraving from the Museum of Art's collection Measuring just 9 3/16 x 7 11/16 inches, this intimate print captures Hogarth's signature satirical flair during the early 18th century in England. As a pioneering artist and printmaker, Hogarth these affordable mediums to reach wide audiences, critiquing society's follies through sharp social commentary. Etching allowed for fluid lines, while engraving added precise detail, making his works both accessible and enduring. The scene depicts a group of men absor...
About the Artist
William Hogarth · 1697–1764
William Hogarth (1697-1764) was an English painter, printmaker, and pictorial satirist who became the first great English-born artist to attract admiration abroad. Born into poverty in London, the son of a failed schoolmaster who was imprisoned for debt, Hogarth's early experiences with the harsh realities of 18th-century urban life profoundly shaped his artistic vision. After apprenticing with si...