The ponderous and the flighty (Hogarth?)
In the review of John Bender's Ends of Englightenment in week's Times Literary Supplement 'Hogarth's over-illustrated plates' are given as an instance of eighteenth-century 'facticity' (in which objects and actions 'are staged" for the benefit of virtual witnesses or surrogate observers who, though not present at the original event being depicted or described, can nonetheless "participate in discussion of it through representation"). The review is accompanied by an image of 'The Weighing House', which derives from the frontispiece to the Rev. John Clubbe's Physiognomy (1763). In the frontispiece several figures 'represent types running from the ponderous to the flighty. Clubbe's project is to describe men through the character of their physiognomies and in particular by ascertaining the gravity of their heads' (Paulson, Hogarth's Graphic Works). Accordingly, the figures in the illustration are identified
in the key (not shown here) as running the gamut from 'absolute gravity' (at the bottom, facing downwards) to 'absolute Levity, or Stark Fool' (drawn upwards towards a magnet suspended from a crossbeam).
But while captioned as a work by Hogarthm the print illustrated is only at some remove from the famous satirist. The illustrated print is in fact a later copy, in reverse, of the original Physiognomy frontispiece (which we have in stock):
The Weighing House
[William Hogarth? Engraved by Luke Sullivan.]
[London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley in Pall-Mall. December 1763.]
Line engraving, 250 x 190mm. 9¾ x 7½". Trimmed and laid down, staining.
Amusing print combining science and character perception, frontispiece to the Rev. John Clubbe's "Physiognomy"
BM Satires: 4090. Paulson: 242.
[Ref: 13086] £280
But even concerning the original frontispiece, as Paulson notes in his catalogue of Hogarth's prints, 'Hogarth's part in this unsigned print is uncertain [...] All the early commentators have accepted the tradtition that Hogarth designed the frontispiece and Luke Sullivan engraved it.' But on analysis of varying accounts of the print's genesis, Paulson concludes 'Clubbe probably began by dedicating the book to Hogarth; Hogarth wished to show his appreciation and offered to draw a frontispiece; Clubbe gave him a 'design' and Hogarth or [Joshua] Kirby, or both, produced the sketch that Luke Sullivan or another hand engraved'.
But while captioned as a work by Hogarthm the print illustrated is only at some remove from the famous satirist. The illustrated print is in fact a later copy, in reverse, of the original Physiognomy frontispiece (which we have in stock):
[William Hogarth? Engraved by Luke Sullivan.]
[London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley in Pall-Mall. December 1763.]
Line engraving, 250 x 190mm. 9¾ x 7½". Trimmed and laid down, staining.
Amusing print combining science and character perception, frontispiece to the Rev. John Clubbe's "Physiognomy"
BM Satires: 4090. Paulson: 242.
[Ref: 13086] £280
But even concerning the original frontispiece, as Paulson notes in his catalogue of Hogarth's prints, 'Hogarth's part in this unsigned print is uncertain [...] All the early commentators have accepted the tradtition that Hogarth designed the frontispiece and Luke Sullivan engraved it.' But on analysis of varying accounts of the print's genesis, Paulson concludes 'Clubbe probably began by dedicating the book to Hogarth; Hogarth wished to show his appreciation and offered to draw a frontispiece; Clubbe gave him a 'design' and Hogarth or [Joshua] Kirby, or both, produced the sketch that Luke Sullivan or another hand engraved'.
