William Hogarth

Head of a Lady, Called Lady Pembroke

c.1740

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
William Hogarth 1697–1764
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Unconfirmed: 628 x 530 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1994
Reference
T06870

Display caption

This recently rediscovered sketch comes from the collection of Jane Hogarth, the artist's widow. It had been lost since 1799, but was known from a crude engraving of that date. Traditionally it is said to represent Mary Fitzwilliam, wife of the 9th Earl of Pembroke, whose beauty and dignity so impressed Hogarth that he made this sketch of her from memory. Certainly it is a serious and rare attempt made by the artist to represent ideal feminine beauty. As such it exemplifies his ever-present ambition to be recognised not only as a painter of satires and forthright portraits, but also of subjects of a more elevated nature.

Gallery label, August 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Rococo

Explore

You might like

William Hogarth, ‘Mrs Salter’ 1741

William Hogarth Mrs Salter

1741
N01663
William Hogarth, ‘Three Ladies in a Grand Interior (‘The Broken Fan’), possibly Catherine Darnley, Duchess of Buckingham with Two Ladies’ c.1736

William Hogarth Three Ladies in a Grand Interior (‘The Broken Fan’), possibly Catherine Darnley, Duchess of Buckingham with Two Ladies

c.1736
T11756
William Hogarth, ‘A Scene from ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ VI’ 1731

William Hogarth A Scene from ‘The Beggar’s Opera’ VI

1731
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N02437
William Hogarth, ‘Lavinia Fenton, Duchess of Bolton’ c.1740–50

William Hogarth Lavinia Fenton, Duchess of Bolton

c.1740–50
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N01161
William Hogarth, ‘Heads of Six of Hogarth’s Servants’ c.1750–5

William Hogarth Heads of Six of Hogarth’s Servants

c.1750–5
N01374
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Lady Anstruther’ 1761

Sir Joshua Reynolds Lady Anstruther

1761
N06243
William Hogarth, ‘Portrait of Hannah, Daughter of John Ranby Snr’ c.1748–50

William Hogarth Portrait of Hannah, Daughter of John Ranby Snr

c.1748–50
T07122
William Hogarth, ‘The Strode Family’ c.1738

William Hogarth The Strode Family

c.1738
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N01153
Allan Ramsay, ‘Lady Hall of Dunglass’ 1752

Allan Ramsay Lady Hall of Dunglass

1752
N06066
William Hogarth, ‘Ashley Cowper with his Wife and Daughter’ 1731

William Hogarth Ashley Cowper with his Wife and Daughter

1731
T00809
William Hogarth, ‘Sigismunda Mourning over the Heart of Guiscardo’ 1759

William Hogarth Sigismunda Mourning over the Heart of Guiscardo

1759
N01046
William Hogarth, ‘Thomas Herring, Archbishop of Canterbury’ 1744–7

William Hogarth Thomas Herring, Archbishop of Canterbury

1744–7
T01971
William Hogarth, ‘Satan, Sin and Death (A Scene from Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’)’ c.1735–40

William Hogarth Satan, Sin and Death (A Scene from Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’)

c.1735–40
T00790
Francis Hayman, ‘The Wrestling Scene from ‘As You Like It’’ c.1740–2

Francis Hayman The Wrestling Scene from ‘As You Like It’

c.1740–2
N06206
Nathaniel Hone, ‘Mary Hone, the Artist’s Wife’ ?1760

Nathaniel Hone Mary Hone, the Artist’s Wife

?1760
N00675