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A Rakes Progress VIII: The Rake in Bedlam, 1733 (oil on canvas)
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A Rakes Progress VIII: The Rake in Bedlam, 1733 (oil on canvas)
SJS2005 A Rakes Progress VIII: The Rake in Bedlam, 1733 (oil on canvas) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); 62.2x75 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum, London; (add.info.: A Rakes Progress, series of 8 charting the decline and fall of Tom Rakewell the spendthrift son of a rich miserly merchant
A scene in Bethlehem Royal Hospital where Tom half-naked and in a state of distress is attended by Sarah Young and a warder, surrounded by other inmates
Two fashionable ladies have come to observe the poor suffering lunatics as one of the sights of the town.); eSir John Soanes Museum; English, out of copyright
Media ID 22808824
© Sir John Soane's Museum / Bridgeman Images
Asylum Avarice Bars Bedlam Bethlem Cautionary Tale Danger Delusion Dementia Desperate Downfall Fool Greed Hardship Heir Insane Insanity Institution Lunatic Madhouse Madness Mania Maniac Melancholy Misery Moral Moral Tale Morality Morality Tale Profligate Public Rags Rake Shackles Shivering Social Climber Social Satire Squalor Telescope Tom Rakewell Vice Violin Visitors Vulnerability Vulnerable Worry Death Scene Insane Asylum Raving Vistors
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A Rake's Progress VIII - The Rake in Bedlam, 1733
EDITORS COMMENTS
by William Hogarth is a captivating and thought-provoking oil painting that depicts the tragic downfall of Tom Rakewell, a spendthrift son of a wealthy merchant. In this eighth scene of the series, we find Tom confined to Bethlehem Royal Hospital, commonly known as Bedlam. The scene is filled with despair and misery as Tom shivers in the cold, half-naked and distressed. Sarah Young and a warder attend to him while surrounded by other inmates. Two fashionable ladies have come to observe the suffering lunatics as if it were public entertainment. Hogarth masterfully portrays the vulnerability and danger faced by those deemed insane during this time period. Shackled in chains, their lives reduced to mere objects of curiosity for society's amusement. Through his satirical lens, he criticizes greed, vice, and social climbing prevalent in Georgian England. This moral tale serves as a cautionary reminder that wealth does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment but can lead one down a path of ruin. The painting highlights themes of poverty, crime, madness, and institutionalization while shedding light on the desperate conditions within these institutions. As viewers gaze upon this powerful artwork from Bridgeman Images' collection at Sir John Soanes Museum in London today (courtesy of Trustees), they are transported back to an era where morality was questioned amidst societal decay. Hogarth's "A Rake's Progress VIII" continues to resonate with audiences worldwide due to its timeless depiction of human folly and its consequences.
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