The Polling is the third painting from Hogarth's 'An Election' series which can be found in the Picture Room at Sir John Soane's Museum. The electors are a motley crowd and include a lunatic and a felon. A solider has his vote queried since, as a result of fighting for his country, he has no hand to use in taking the oath. No one pays any attention to Britannia's plight in the broken coach. The four paintings in Hogarth's final 'modern moral subject' series were purchased by Soane in 1823 for the sum of 1650 guineas at an auction of the effects of Mrs Garrick, widow of the Shakespearean actor, David Garrick. 'An Election' is very finely painted and the series ranks as one of Hogarth's greatest masterpieces. Soane was evidently not deterred by polite feelings or revulsion at what the Gentleman's Magazine called 'the very many disgusting, if not depraved exhibitions of human nature' in the paintings. The series of paintings are part of a long tradition of political satire on the theme of the vices attendant on rural election campaigns. Although the paintings and engravings were inspired by the 1754 election, and especially the events in Oxfordshire, Hogarth may have been influenced by a 1741 poem, The Humours of a Country Election. His pessimistic view of humanity as a mass of drunken, greedy and stupid individuals may well reflect Hogarth's unhappiness towards the end of his life when he found many of his ideals, both for art and for everyday life, were being superseded. Digitally printed in the UK on 250gsm paper 280 x 356mm with a white border. Packaged in a cello bag with a backing board for protection. Shipping times: Due to the operational hours of the museum we ship orders from Tuesday to Fridays. Orders are sent out within two working days of having been placed via UK First Class. Delivery to the rest of the world is Standard Shipping and will have different expected arrival dates. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding expected arrival dates or if items show as out of stock.
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