The first of 4 articles looking at an extraordinary narrative series of 34 paintings, many of them quite beautiful.
series
Two Romantic series from the founder of the Hudson River School, showing the rise and loss of civilisation, and the stages of life.
Hogarth’s series spawned several others, the most significant being by Augustus Egg and William Frith.
His most famous, and brilliantly painted, narrative series, and an experimental oddity.
The series A Harlot’s Progress and A Rake’s Progress told detailed and complex narratives using paintings alone.
His paintings of trees reached a peak in 1887-92, with his series of poplars. Among these are some of the finest Impressionist paintings.
Sadly neglected today, his landscapes are some of the finest of the century, and his depictions of trees are among the best.
Monet’s paintings are overfamiliar, overexposed, and devalued. Can this book cast fresh light?
This article summarises the information that I have now obtained from working through that catalogue raisoné, and includes new information on Pissarro’s series paintings.
Perhaps they are the landscape equivalent of serial self-portraiture after all.
The Eclectic Light Company 