Plate 1. An Election Entertainment.
It has been said that Hogarth attempted to finish this plate without taking a single proof from it, to examine the effect as he proceeded in his work. Be that as it may, the little alterations are more numerous than in any of his other prints; and that in the inscription, stating the whole to be engraved by Hogarth, being so often inserted and repeatedly effaced, I am unable to account for.
First state—"Painted, and the whole engraved by Wm. Hogarth," "Published 24th Feb. 1755," and "Inscribed to the Right Honourable Henry Fox, etc. etc. etc."
Seven cut lemons on a piece of paper close to the punch-tub; four hats in the corner; "For our Country," on the riband in the striped cap of the butcher pouring out gin. A salt-cellar and a bit of bread near the fork upon the table.
Second state—The two words, "the whole," in the inscription, scratched over with black lines; the drapery, stockings, etc. on the table before Richard Slim made much darker; the hand of the fat old woman, close to the candidate, removed from under her apron, and hanging down by her side, by which the shoulder, elbow, etc. are thrown out of drawing; her countenance less clear, and a single tooth, very conspicuous in the first impression, is here removed. Shadow on the top of the wainscot in the left corner effaced. Half a casement near the painting of a landscape changed to a window-shutter; the king's head, frame, and background behind it, lighter; the salt-cellar and bit of bread removed from the table; lemons taken out, and the tub, pail, and foreground below them much lighter; the boy's napkin darker. The butcher's cap, in which was "For our Country," has now "PRO PATRIA," and is not striped; the open-back chair in which he was seated in the first state, is here filled up to a cushion back. The words, "sure votes" and "doubtful," in the attorney's book, are re-engraved. Both leaves are shadowed, and the centre line from top to bottom, which in the first state was with the "sure votes," is here transferred to the "doubtful." Two pearly drops are trickling from the parson's forehead. Four windows are added to a house seen out of the open casement; a pair of scissors suspended to the Methodist tailor's apron-string, and the pen, stuck under the wig of the fellow who offers him a bribe, which in the first state was with the feather outwards, is now properly altered to the quill outwards. There are several other little variations in the shadows which seem generally intended to bring the print into harmony; and I think have their effect, for it is more still, and in better keeping than in the first state.
Third state—The cross strokes of the graver on the words "the whole," in the inscription, nearly burnished out. One hat added in the corner, and another placed on the bench near the scabbard and gloves. The face, knot, etc. of the little girl near the candidate darkened; and the hair of the fellow smoking him much shadowed, and rendered less woolly. Character of face of the boy pouring punch altered, and hair made much darker.
Fourth state—The words "the whole" again inserted; the W is different, and engraving not so good as in the first state: the shadow on the top of the wainscot, close to the landscape, again restored. A strong shadow on the lower part of the round table in the corner burnished down.
Fifth, which is the present state—The words "the whole" again completely effaced by black lines. The masses somewhat stronger, and the shadows on the round table in the corner, especially on the edge, made darker.
I have this print in all the states here described, and believe that the third and fourth are very uncommon.
On the butcher with "PRO PATRIA" in his cap, and his wounded companion, Hogarth makes the following remark:—