Hogarth’s House…..

Today we visited Hogarth’s house in Chiswick. I had not been there before and was agreeably surprised how interesting it was. It is owned and managed by the London Borough of Hounslow and entry is free. It is a fairly small house so the main items on display are copies of Hogarth’s prints eg Rakes Progress 1-8. You could walk round the house in about 10 minutes but if you look at the prints properly and read all the accompanying notes it takes much longer. So interesting  to see the amazing detailed work he did and such satirical and political contexts for the family too…plus lots of quite risqué characters and poses in the prints.

Outside is a Mulberry tree which has been there since the 18C  and is now propped up by 5 large wooden posts - each has a phrase carved on it ..
Last to bud first to fruit
Of trees the queen
Fruit not silk
Buds after frost 
Round and round!

In the photo it all looks quite serene and peaceful but….The wall on the left is adjacent to the very very busy A4 which goes for the nearby Hogarth roundabout to the Chiswick roundabout near Kew Bridge. The road noise on the house was terrible.
So different to when Hogarth lived there and it was a lane outside for horse drawn vehicles.

The house is surrounded by block of flats and a nearby Premier Inn..I would not like to live there or stay in that hotel! Far too noisy even with triple glazing!