A Rake's Progress, Plate 5

This is the fifth scene of one of William Hogarth's most popular "Modern Moral Subjects”: " A Rake's Progress." With the popularity of 'A Harlot's Progress,' he commenced selling subscriptions in late 1733, but the prints were not completed until June, 1735. Part of this delay was the passage of the Engraver's Act, which was designed to prevent pirating of engraver's works. Hogarth waited until the act took effect on June 25th, 1735 - the date engraved on the prints - to publish the series. Despite his careful planning, pirated copies appeared on the market in early June apparently based on Hogarth's original paintings for the set, now in the collection of Sir John Soane's Museum.

Now in debt but accustomed to the luxury and wealth, in the fifth scene, Thomas Rakewell marries an elderly, one-eyed, rich widow to replenish his inheritance, which he has squandered. In the background, is former lover, Sarah Young (who as now given birth to their child) and her mother have burst into the church to protest the banns and attempt to prevent the marriage. The church, which is empty and in disrepair represents Old Marylebone Church which at the time was just outside of London and was known for conducting clandestine or hasty marriages.

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