Mad House

William Hogarth, artist

1697–1764

Mad House, circa 1735

Portfolio/Series title: A Rake's Progress

Where object was made: England, United Kingdom

Material/technique: etching

Dimensions:
Plate Mark/Block Dimensions (Height x Width): 354 x 408 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 459 x 593 mm
Plate Mark/Block Dimensions (Height x Width): 13 15/16 x 16 1/16 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 18 1/16 x 23 3/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 20 x 25 in

Credit line: Gift of Mrs. J. R. Carstairs in honor of Mrs. Henry Werner

Accession number: 1958.0005.08

On display: Simons Gallery

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Soundings: Making Culture at Sea

Imperial expansion fueled the desire for more efficient ways to navigate the seas. British Parliament passed an act that rewarded anyone who found a way to accurately calculate longitude at sea. The prospect of financial gain inspired more than mathematicians, clockmakers, and sea captains. Hogarth’s print shows a well-known London mental institution where a patient behind the doorway draws a globe on the wall; he has gone mad in his quest to find the calculation.