Beggar's Opera, Act Three

Date1790

Engraver William Hogarth 1697 - 1764

After work by William Blake

MediumLine engraving and etching on laid paper

DimensionsOverall: 20 1/2 × 25 1/4 in (52.07 × 64.14cm)
Other (Platemark as visible): 17 3/4 × 22 5/8 in (45.08 × 57.47cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1950-740

DescriptionLower margin: "Painted by W.m Hogarth/ Size of the Picture 21 by 30 long/ Engraved by W.m Blake/ BEGGAR'S OPERA, ACT III./ "When my hero in Court appears, &c./ From the Original Picture, in the Collection of his Grace the Duke of Leeds./ Publish'd July 1.st 1790, by J & J Boydell Ccheapide 7 at the Shakespeare Gallery Pall Mall London"Label TextThe set for a production of the BEGGAR'S OPERA as produced in 1728, taken from a most famous Hogarth painting. The court room with stone walls is shown. Two women and some men are seen to the left of the stage. A lady and gentleman are seen to the right. In the center are the five major characters of the play...from left to right: Lucy Lockitt; her father, the Warden of Newgate; Macheath, the highwayman; Polly Peachum and her father, a receiver of stolen goods. The scene depicts the two young women pleading with their fathers to save Macheath from the hanging to which he has just been sentenced.

The play was first produced at Lincoln's Inn in 1728 and completely caught Hogarth's fancy. He painted six version of the Opera before his death.ProvenanceBefore 1950, the Old Print Shop (New York, NY); 1950-present, purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).