An Celebration Of William Hogarth

On the 250th anniversary of his death

The Friends of St Nicholas Church and the William Hogarth Trust are collaborating on an evening in honour of William Hogarth. It will take place in St Nicholas at 7.30 pm on the anniversary of his last night in Chiswick, 25 October.

Hogarth died the following day at his home in what is now Leicester Square. He was buried at St Nicholas and a magnificent memorial was placed at his grave by his friends, with an engraved epitaph written by David Garrick, the actor. Hogarth's sister, his wife, her cousin and her mother are all buried there, too. Flowers will be laid at the tomb in the churchyard at 7.00pm before the event.

Lithograph of Hogarth tomb

The evening will not be a religious serrvice, but a jolly opportunity to remember Hogarth who loved company and singing! There will be readings of texts written by and about Hogarth, and music he would have known, played by Ars Eloquentiae, a group of fine professional musicians based at St Anne's Church, Kew Green. The music will range through works by G F Handel, Thomas Arne and William Boyce, all of whom Hogarth knew, with some rousing street ballads and drinking songs for the audience to join in.

Tickets on the door £10, but admission is free to Friends of St Nicholas Church. Refreshments will be available. Doors open at 6.45pm and the performance begins at 7.30. All welcome to come along, no need to book in advance.

The event has been made possible with the support of the John Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust, Hounslow Council (Chiswick Area Forum) and Fleet Tutors."

October 1, 2014