Elizabeth Woodward Marriage À-la-Mode: Hogarth. (6 SCENES)
DETAIL SCENE(S) MEANING
CORONETS DECORATING 1 (& 4) The earl is very proud of being an aristocrat and EVERYWHERE decorates everything with them; his new daughter-in-law does the same in her bedroom PORTRAIT WITH FALSE 1 Nobody had received this medal in the earl’s lifetime, so MEDAL it must be false FAMILY TREE 1 The earl points to his place in a family tree going back to William the Conqueror (700 years??). He is trying to impress the Alderman TWO DOGS CHAINED 1 A pair of dogs chained together, symbols of the unhappy TOGETHER couple who are to be married whether they want to or not BOOK OF RELIGIOUS 2 The steward, who manages the couple’s finances, sees SERMONS they are going towards bankruptcy and ruin, he is a man of high morals, he reads religious texts like this one DOG SNIFFING AT 2 The lady’s pet dog doesn’t recognise the smell of the lace SOMETHING UNFAMILIAR cap in the viscount’s pocket. Perhaps it is a trophy or souvenir of his night out... PICTURE HALF-COVERED 2 1. Bad taste, if the picture is so scandalous why is it in a room frequented by everyone. 2. Symbolic of hidden truths, not everything is as innocent as it seems SMALL HAND MIRROR 2 She must be signalling to somebody (her lover) to leave the room once her husband falls asleep or passes out TWO VIOLINS 2 One on top of the other, sexual connotations; the lady has not just been playing cards all night DEFORMED NOSE & LEGS 3 (& 6) Symptoms of advance stages of syphilis; doctor has them, so he can’t even cure himself; baby has inherited disease from his parents; not long to live FLOWERED MATERIAL 3 Woman’s top and girl’s skirt are of same material; indicates mother and daughter; daughter follows mother in same profession (prostitutes) LETTERS “F.C.” 3 Female convict; branded/tattooed on woman’s chest; she has been in prison PORTRAIT OF A LAWYER 4 Silvertongue’s portrait decorates lady’s bedroom; they are openly lovers; husband doesn’t know or care SINGER & MUSICIAN 4 Castrato singer (fashionable to employ one to entertain visitors at this hour); the music helps to cover the details of the conversation between the lovers TICKET FOR A 4 (& 5) Silvertongue invites her to a masked ball; they will dress MASQUERADE as a nun/monk; scandalous events, illicit liaisons go undetected because of disguises VISITING CARDS 4 The lady has such a full social agenda she can’t attend to SCATTERED ON FLOOR all the invitations she receives; names of people show they are neither really high class nor intellectual... BUNDLE OF FIREWOOD 5 Also called a faggot, and this also means harlot or prostitute; the lady is behaving as a prostitute SOMEONE ESCAPING 5 Silvertongue has stabbed the viscount; he must escape THROUGH OPEN WINDOW before they catch him, he wastes no time in getting dressed A CHILD’S NURSE 6 She holds the baby so that he can give a last kiss and hug to his dying mother; she looks really concerned EMPTY BOTTLE OF 6 The lady has drunk the whole bottle of the “remedy” for LAUDANUM her disease; mixture of opium, as painkiller. HUNGRY DOG 6 Very hungry; count his ribs; in this house there is little food; the dog takes advantage of the chaos to eat
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode 1 Click on full screen, then + so as to see each picture in detail.