Time is blowing pipe-smoke onto a painting while his scythe has sunk into the canvas; representing the ageing of paintings as they acquire Old Master status. Engraving by T. Cook after W. Hogarth.

  • Hogarth, William, 1697-1764.
Date:
Decr. 1 1802
Reference:
39265i
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view Time is blowing pipe-smoke onto a painting while his scythe has sunk into the canvas; representing the ageing of paintings as they acquire Old Master status. Engraving by T. Cook after W. Hogarth.

Contains: 1 image

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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Credit

Time is blowing pipe-smoke onto a painting while his scythe has sunk into the canvas; representing the ageing of paintings as they acquire Old Master status. Engraving by T. Cook after W. Hogarth. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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About this work

Description

"Time smoking" was a common metaphor for the ageing process. "Crates" prefixed to the Greek motto on the picture frame identifies the author of the quote

Publication/Creation

London (Paternoster Row) : G.G. & J. Robinson, Decr. 1 1802.

Physical description

1 print : engraving, with etching ; image 20.2 x 17 cm

Lettering

To nature and your self appeal / Nor learn of others what to feel. Anon. [...] Further lettering within the print: the Greek motto on the picture frame is a quotation from Crates (via The spectator), meaning in English "For time is not a great artist, but weakens all he touches"

References note

R. Paulson, Hogarth's graphic works, 3 ed., London 1989, related to [208]

Reference

Wellcome Collection 39265i

Reproduction note

The original etching of "Time smoking a picture" (1741) was used as a subscription ticket for "Sigismunda"

Type/Technique

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