Key with List of Performers and Audience to: The Beggars Opera
July 1, 1790
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 5 13/16 x 8 11/16 in. (14.7 x 22 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1932
Accession Number
32.35(249)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting etching and engraving, titled *Key with List of Perform and Audience to: Thegar's Opera*, serves a fascinating companion piece to William Hogarth's illustrations of John Gay's groundbreaking 1728 ballad opera Produced on July 1, 1790, by publishers John and Josiah Boydell, it the performers and audience members depicted in Hogarth's scenes, offering visitors a window into the vibrant theatrical world of 18th-century London. The Beggar's Opera a witty parody of Italian opera and corrupt society, captivated audiences with its roguish characters and popular tunes, making this key ...
About the Artist
William Hogarth|John & Josiah Boydell|John Gay · 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...