1984.194.FA William Hogarth, The Five Orders of the Perriwigs, October 15, 1761

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This etching was intended to make fun of the scholars James Stuart and Nicholas Revett, who had just published The Antiquities of Athens Measured (1762–1790). Eighteenth-century British high society’s personalities and quirks are put on view in this storefront-like display that combines word and image. This satirical critique plays on the cult of Vitruvius, which established standards of composition and beauty on the measurements of ancient statues or columns. These were categorized into five classical orders: Doric, Tuscan, Ionic, Composite, and Corinthian. Here, William Hogarth arranged wigs according to the five social classes who wore them and used the text to assign appropriate categories and parody the publication of Stuart and Revett’s book. The “orders” of hairpieces include “Episcopal,” worn by churchmen; “Old Peerian or Aldermanic,” worn by city officials; “Lexonic,” worn by lawyers; and “Composite or Half Natural” and “Queerinthian or Queue de Renard,” worn by suitors. Hogarth created a sixth “order” for women’s wigs, shown on the bottom row.

Excerpt from

Nicole Myers, DMA label copy, 2018.

NOTES

Created in 1761

Checked Piction

2nd state

Catalogue essays

Foundation for the Arts

Artist/designers

Hogarth, William (British, 1697-1764)

Cultures

Geography

Place of origin: London (England): TGN: 7011781

Process/materials

Etching on paper

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS

PROVENANCE

AUDIO ASSETS

VIDEO ASSETS

IMAGE ASSETS

WEB RESOURCES

National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC~Read a biography of William Hogarth.
William Hogarth Trust~Learn more about Hogarth and his home in Chiswick, London.

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES

Apply to objects where number equals 1984.194.FA

General Description

This etching was intended to make fun of the scholars James Stuart and Nicholas Revett, who had just published The Antiquities of Athens Measured (1762–1790). Eighteenth-century British high society’s personalities and quirks are put on view in this storefront-like display that combines word and image. This satirical critique plays on the cult of Vitruvius, which established standards of composition and beauty on the measurements of ancient statues or columns. These were categorized into five classical orders: Doric, Tuscan, Ionic, Composite, and Corinthian. Here, William Hogarth arranged wigs according to the five social classes who wore them and used the text to assign appropriate categories and parody the publication of Stuart and Revett’s book. The “orders” of hairpieces include “Episcopal,” worn by churchmen; “Old Peerian or Aldermanic,” worn by city officials; “Lexonic,” worn by lawyers; and “Composite or Half Natural” and “Queerinthian or Queue de Renard,” worn by suitors. Hogarth created a sixth “order” for women’s wigs, shown on the bottom row.