Hogarth's Marriage-à-la-mode

The engravings of William Hogarth (1697-1764) embody all the possibilities of modern satire. Few other artists have so mercilessly captured and satirised the follies of their age. Early-Georgian Britain is still sometimes called 'the age of Hogarth'. The adjective 'Hogarthian' reaches beyond this period, to describe the decadent and morally corrupt.

The 2008 National Library Gallery exhibition Cautionary Tales: the satirical engravings of William Hogarth included more than 50 of Hogarth's engravings.

Hogarth's Marriage-à-la-mode series

This online exhibition presents Marriage-à-la-mode, one of Hogarth's most sensational 'modern moral subjects' – cautionary tales aimed at fostering the self-improvement of individuals and society. Hogarth uses six engravings to track the establishment, breakdown and bloody end of an ill-fated marriage of convenience.

A set of preparatory oil sketches survive for a discarded series of paintings celebrating a happy and productive marriage. It is thought that Hogarth may have given up these paintings after coming to the understanding that images of wedded bliss lack the high drama and intrigue that made Marriage-à-la-mode so popular.

Marriage-à-la-New Zealand and The Underbelly

Two related online exhibitions sample a range of New Zealand cartoons from the 19th century through to the present day. They offer New Zealand takes on Hogarth's key themes and modes of satire.

View Marriage-à-la-New Zealand

View The Underbelly