Description: More than 70 works of Hogarth include musical references, and Jeremy Barlow's book is the first full-length work devoted to this aspect of his imagery. The first two chapters examine the evidence for Hogarth's interest in music and the problems of assessing accuracy, realism and symbolic meaning in his musical representations. Subsequent chapters show how musical details in his works may often be interpreted as part of his satirical weaponry. The book is lavishly illustrated with Hogarth's drawings, prints and paintings. Many other images are reproduced to provide contextual background. Several indices and appendices enhance the book's value as a reference tool.
Review Quotes: 'It is extraordinary that this is the first book on Hogarth and music, when, as Jeremy Barlow points out, his art is filled with music and musicians. What Barlow is able to demonstrate is that the tensions in Hogarth's own art between morality and freedom, high art and the popular, and the life of the street and of the academy, are played out with powerful effect in his representations of music in all its forms. Barlow meticulously avoids the fallacy of assuming the 'truth' of Hogarth's views of London to show that music engaged the artist's intellect fully. This is a really important book and one of the most original to appear on the artist for a long time.' Professor David Bindman, Durning-Lawrence Professor of the History of Art, University College London, UK 'The principal readership will be from those whose interests lie in the works of Hogarth, relevant connected areas of art history, 18th-century London political and social history, and musicians with an interest in 18th-century London performance and repertory. The book makes an important contribution to the literature about 18th-century musical instruments and the evidence for their manner of performance. Particularly original is the treatment of 'popular' instruments in Chapter 3, which has not previously been covered in this way, or with this degree of scholarly seriousness. As well as containing substantial new material, the book examines previously explored topics from new perspectives and in greater depth.' Professor Donald Burrows, Music Department, The Open University, UK 'Barlow is familiar with the worlds of the musicologist (and musician), the historian and the art historian and draws on them with aplomb and skill.' Early Music Review 'For the first time this obviously important feature of Hogarth's work becomes the subject of a book-length study... the book will not only be of interest to Hogarth enthusiasts bu also to students of the history of music and popular culture.' Arlis '... Ashgat