NEWS RELEASES
Hogarth Launches New Horsham Exhibition Space
31st January 2007
Hogarth - Up Close and Personal
Horsham Museum is pleased to announce the opening of a new temporary exhibitions gallery, and to mark this new beginning the Museum is staging an exhibition that celebrates the artistic brilliance and pointed wit of William Hogarth.
Throughout 2006 Horsham Museum staff mounted occasional displays to see if the Hurst Room, a meeting room used by schools, U3A, and other groups for talks and education workshops, could be used for displays. The success of these displays encouraged the Museum to make the Hurst Room a permanent exhibition room as well as an educational resource, so when it is not in use by groups, visitors can view exhibitions.
The first exhibition is a real eye opener, for Hogarth - Up Close and Personal enables the visitor to look closely at the artistry, wit and characterisation of Britain’s celebrated 18th century artist. Most people know of Hogarth’s work through the print. We have taken four of his prints, the four that have the greatest resonance for Horsham—those that explore political corruption, and have enlarged them, so instead of looking at prints that are A4 size at best the visitor will see each one 5ft by 4ft.
Hogarth Up Close reveals the debauchery and decadence of the Election Entertainment, followed by the rural idyll of the country inn, except the scene is fractured by the rampant corruption and bribery of the electoral agents. The last two prints explore the actual casting of the vote and chairing the member. Three of these images graphically portray the sort of behaviour going on in Horsham in the late 18th century; we know this because unlike many of today’s scandals where evidence is destroyed, they kept it and Horsham Museum holds one of the largest collections of such material in the country.
The exhibition though is not just reproductions of old prints. On display and loaned for the exhibition is a personal collection of 18th century books by and about Hogarth including some of his earliest works together with a copy of his celebrated Analysis of Beauty (1753) owned by the Duchess of Sussex, the scandalous wife of one of George III’s sons.
Hogarth - Up Close and Personal is open to view whenever the Hurst Room isn’t being used by educational groups. It maximises the use of the Museum’s resources and creates a new opportunity for the Museum. Visitors to the Museum now have four temporary exhibitions to view as well as over 25 galleries.
Hogarth - Up Close and Personal is open between 6th February 2007 and 28th April 2007. If you are making a special visit to see the exhibition please ring before hand as the room might be in use for educational purposes.
For further information please contact Jeremy Knight, Curator.
Horsham Museum, 9 Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1HE
Tel: (01403) 254959 Fax: (01403) 282594
Email: museum@horsham.gov.uk
http://www.horshammuseum.org
Exhibitions currently on display at Horsham Museum feature Coaching & The Jeweller's Craft