Hogarth Masterpiece To Return to West London

Chiswick artist’s 'A Rake’s Progress' to feature in exhibition at Pitzhanger Gallery

One of the prints from Hogarth's 'A Rake's Progress'

One of the most famous paintings by Chiswick-based artist William Hogarth is to form the centrepiece of the post-Covid-19 reopening of Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery on Thursday 10 September.

‘The Rake’s Progress’ is being lent by the Sir John Soane’s Museum to be on display in a new exhibition 'Hogarth: London Voices, London Lives'.

It represents a return after 200 years to Pitzhanger for the series by the 18th Century artist and it will be paired with works by contemporary artists to offer a modern reading of London and its social challenges.

The exhibition will be open from 11am to 7pm Thursday to Saturday each week.

Pitzhanger had been open for just one year following its complete restoration, before having to close temporarily in March 2020 in response to Covid-19. This exhibition had been originally scheduled for during the pandemic but had to be postponed.

Initially opening for longer hours Thursday – Sunday each week, all visitors will need to pre-book their ticket and a new one-way system will ensure physical distancing and a welcoming environment. Tickets and further details are available on the Pitzhanger website here.

The exhibition centres around the eight paintings in Hogarth’s morality tale. A series of works by contemporary artists explore a broader view of society, offering a snapshot of the people and places that give life to the city, from the polarising views expressed on social media to the challenges of retaining outdoor space for the public. The artists are Faisal Abdu’Allah, Ruth Ewan, James Fritz, Oliver Payne & Nick Relph, John Riddy and debbie tucker green, together with the archive from Long Live Southbank.

Clare Gough, Director of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery said, “I am delighted to announce that Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery is reopening its doors so that visitors can explore Sir John Soane’s country manor in London. We are excited to share our postponed exhibition, inspired by Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress, which feels particularly resonant now as we reflect on life for all communities in London today after the impact of the past months.”

The exhibition has been supported by an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant and the loan of A Rake’s Progress is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.

Since Pitzhanger had to close in response to the Covid-19 pandemic Pitzhanger lost all its admissions and commercial income; even when it re-opens it says that will take many months before it can get close to breakeven due to the impact of social distancing on commercial income.

Full price tickets are £7, concessions (including visitors with access needs and students) £4.50; National Art Pass £3.50; free entry for under 18s; Pitzhanger Members; and Ealing residents (11:00am – 2:30pm on Sundays).

To coincide with reopening, there will be a residency Pitzhanger x The Dodo Micropub at café restaurant Soane’s Kitchen over the opening two long weekends.

August 29, 2020