Hogarth, William, 1697-1764 :Marriage a-la-Mode. [The Marriage contract]. Plate I. Invented, painted & published by Wm Hogarth. Engraved by G Scotin, according to Act of Parliament April 1st 1745.

The scene is set in the opulent home of Lord Squanderfield. Suffering from gout he is seated to the left under the magisterial canopy, crutches by his side. He is engaged in negotiations of matrimony concerning his son who is seated on the right. The father is displaying a chart of his family tree (which shows his direct lineage to William of Normandy) to the father of the projected bride who sits across the table from him. Plainly dressed he scrutinizes the marriage contract through half-raised spectacles. Between them stands the userer who is passing Lord Squanderfield a mortgage document. The reason the Earl is marrying his son to an untitled family is evident through the window where work on his new mansion has ceased due to lack of funds. The architect waits at the window for a resumption in activities. The son is showing no interest in his prospective bride. He is more fascinated with his own reflection in the mirror as he takes snuff from a box. The black beauty patch on his neck may shield a syphilitic sore. The bride is discontented and bored. She threads her muslin scarf through the constricting hoop of her gold ring. Standing beside her the whispering barrister, Silvertongue. In the lower righthand corner is a pair of dogs - their manacled state is clearly symbolic of the couple's marriage. On the walls hand portraits of Lord Squanderfield, many of them ridiculously heroic.

Source of descriptive information - www.artoftheprint.com

Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - Title

Quantity: 1 b&w art print(s).

Physical Description: Engraving, 385 x 466 mm, on sheet 485 x 652 mm