Jeremy Prescott led a walk recently showing buildings and areas in London associated with William Hogarth and some of his works. He has kindly allowed DOV to publish his notes so you can take the walk independently.
Link to Part 1 Smithfield to Leicester Square.
Part 2: The Foundling Museum
The Foundling Museum received a Royal Charter in 1739, after 17 years campaigning by Thomas Coram. The hospital (see above) was built from 1740 on 56 acres of what were then open fields (you can still get a feel of that) and remained on the site until 1926. Today’s building is from the 1930s, but includes some of the formal rooms from the old building.
The governors wanted the hospital to be a place where fashionable people came and would be encouraged to make donations. Most of what we now see as normal charity fund raising activities – balls, concerts, breakfasts – were used for the first time in the fund raising.
There were two great supporters and early governors, Hogarth and Handel.
Hogarth really got behind it. He designed the letterhead, the coat of arms and some say the uniforms, but more importantly he gave it some of his own paintings and encouraged his fellow artists and friends from the St Martin’s Lane Academy to do this as well, to encourage wealthy people to visit the hospital. It also enabled the artists to show off their work to help get commissions, and meant that the building housed an important collection of art in what – some dare say – was arguably England’s first public art gallery. (Hey, Dulwich Picture Gallery claims to be that! Ed.) Hogarth also was supervisor of wet nurses in Chiswick, and fostered some of the children.
Handel gave concerts, including an annual concert where he conducted the Messiah.
Although Hogarth used his art as self-promotion, he very clearly also identified with Coram, the hospital and the children – he was one of only four governors who volunteered, with Coram, to be part of the selection of the first children for the hospital, in what were heart rending scenes.
There are three of his paintings here – The March of the Guards to Finchley (1749-50); Captain Thomas Coram (1740) and Moses brought before Pharoah’s Daughter (1746). The Coram picture is remarkable, a life size, full length and informal painting that caused a big stir at the time. Hogarth gave his unsold subscription tickets for the Guards engraving and chance to win the painting, and you’ll be unsurprised to learn that the hospital won the lottery.
As well as the pictures, there are some of the tokens which mothers left with their children to identify them if they wanted them back, and some letters from Hogarth.
The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 11am to 5pm; entrance is £5 (concessions £4, NACF members free)
We hope to go to Hogarth’s House in Chiswick, which is currently being refurbished, next year.
