Navigation 2023

Since Adirondack Retro acquired Darvill's Rare Prints in August of 2022, we have been working tirelessly on our New State-Of-The Art Website . We are excited to announce that it is now up and running and that our massive inventory of Antique Prints and Rare Maps are being transferred over to the new site daily. In addition to the nearly 500,000 prints found on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com, Adirondack Retro offers an eclectic selection of Antique and Vintage Advertisements along with their Limited Edition Giclee Prints. During this transition, customers will still be able to shop and make purchases on www.DarvillsRarePrints.com.

Sign up for our Mailing List and receive our Adirondack Retro Newsletter. When you sign up, we will email you a coupon code for you to get 15% OFF your first order at AdirondackRetro.com.

Genuine, original William Hogarth engravings and etchings from Darvill's Rare Prints

Beer Street and Gin Lane

Negligence, poverty and death in London

Hogarth claimed that these prints were 'calculated to reform some reigning Vices peculiar to the lower Class of People.' They were published in support of a campaign directed against gin drinking among London's poor. Consumption of cheap spirits by the poor had soared in the early eighteenth century, with dire social consequences. The campaign was led by Hogarth's friend, the novelist Henry Fielding (1707-54), who was chief magistrate for Westminster from 1749 to 1754. It was successful: an act against gin was passed later in 1751. This prevented retail sale of gin by the shops that sold normal household necessities, and was effective in curbing the evils of spirit drinking.

Beer Street celebrates the virtues of the mildly intoxicating traditional national drink. Beer inspires artists and refreshes tradesmen and labourers. It can be drunk safely on rooftops. The newfangled foreign spirit gin, however, inspires violence and careless inebriation. A gin-sodden mother is oblivious to her child's fall. Addiction to spirits leads to negligence, poverty and death.

The verses were written by Hogarth's friend James Towneley to make plain the meaning of the images. The prints were too expensive for the urban poor, but would have been within the means of the middle-class electorate. The horrors of Gin Lane provided imagery for propaganda against alcohol for another hundred years.

References:

British Museum

R. Paulson, Hogarths graphic works, 3rd edition (London, The Print Room, 1989)

D. Bindman, Hogarth and his times: serious, exh. cat. (London, The British Museum Press, 1997)

M. Hallett, The spectacle of difference: g (New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 1999)

R. Paulson, Hogarth, vol 2 (Cambridge, Lutterworth, 1991-93)

(click thumbnail to enlarge, the Darvill's digital watermark obviously does not appear on the actual engraving)	(click thumbnail to enlarge, the Darvill's digital watermark obviously does not appear on the actual engraving)
Beer Street Original copperplate engraving/etching, almost 200 years old. Overall shee size: approximately 13 1/4 x 15 13/16 inches (about 33.6 x 40.2 cm) Size to plate impression: approx. 12 7/8 x 15 3/8 inches (about 32.6 x 39 cm) Condition: Excellent. No significant flaws to mention other than some remnant of old adhesive (?) on BACK of paper. This has been thoroughly conserved and de-acidifed by a professional paper conservator. Please see large photo of plate by clicking on above image. This is a very nice, dark impression of one of Hogarth's most sought after engravings! Text below etching: Beer, happy Produce of our Isle Can sinewy Strength impart, And wearied with Fatigue and Toil Can cheer each manly Heart. Labour and Art upheld by Thee Successfully advance, We quaff Thy balmy Juice with Glee And Water leave to France. Genius of Health, thy grateful Taste Rivals the Cup of Jove, And warms each English generous Breast With Liberty and Love!	Gin Lane Original copperplate engraving/etching, almost 200 years old. Overall shee size: approximately 13 7/8 x 15 11/16 inches (about 35.3 x 39.8 cm) Size to plate impression: approx. 12 3/4 x 15 3/8 inches (about 32.5 x 39 cm) Condition: Excellent. No significant flaws to mention. This has been thoroughly conserved and de-acidifed by a professional paper conservator. Please see large photo of plate by clicking on above image. This is a very nice, dark impression of one of Hogarth's most sought after engravings! Text below etching: Gin, cursed Fiend, with Fury fraught, Makes human Race a Prey. It enters by a deadly Draught And steals our Life away. Virtue and Truth, driv'n to Despair Its Rage compells to fly, But cherishes with hellish Care Theft, Murder, Perjury. Damned Cup! that on the Vitals preys That liquid Fire contains, Which Madness to the heart conveys, And rolls it thro' the Veins.
Beer Street and Gin Lane by William Hogarth Original 195+-year-old Copperplate Engravings and Etchings from: The Works of William Hogarth from the Original Plates Restored by James Heath, Esq., R.A.; With the Addition of Many Subjects Not Before Collected: To Which is Prefixed, a Biographical Essay on the Genius and Productions of Hogarth, and Explanations on the Subjects of the Plates by John Nichols, Esq., F.S.A. London. Printed for Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, Paternoster Row by Nichols and Son, Parliament Street 1822 $3,995.95 Sold as a pair only. Please note: shipping may be higher than is calculated upon checkout. We may need to send an electronic invoice for any additional shipping/insurance. Please be sure to check your email or contact us prior to purchase for a more accurate shipping quote based on your location.

(click thumbnail to enlarge, the Darvill's digital watermark obviously does not appear on the actual engraving)	(click thumbnail to enlarge, the Darvill's digital watermark obviously does not appear on the actual engraving)
Beer Street Original copperplate engraving/etching, over 195 years old. Overall framed size: approximately 22 x 24.25 inches Frame is gold with red highlights, double mat with outer mat a pale gold raw silk with black inner mat Mat opening: approx. 13 x 15.25 inches Condition: Excellent. No significant flaws to mention. Please see large photo of plate by clicking on above image. There are minor refelections on the glass and frame in the photo. This is a very nice, dark impression of one of Hogarth's most sought after engravings! Text below etching: Beer, happy Produce of our Isle Can sinewy Strength impart, And wearied with Fatigue and Toil Can cheer each manly Heart. Labour and Art upheld by Thee Successfully advance, We quaff Thy balmy Juice with Glee And Water leave to France. Genius of Health, thy grateful Taste Rivals the Cup of Jove, And warms each English generous Breast With Liberty and Love!	Gin Lane Original copperplate engraving/etching, over 195 years old. Overall framed size: approximately 22 x 24.25 inches Frame is gold with red highlights, double mat with outer mat a pale gold raw silk with black inner mat Mat opening: approx. 13 x 15.25 inches Condition: Excellent. No significant flaws to mention. Please see large photo of plate by clicking on above image. There are minor refelections on the glass and frame in the photo. This is a very nice, dark impression of one of Hogarth's most sought after engravings! Text below etching: Gin, cursed Fiend, with Fury fraught, Makes human Race a Prey. It enters by a deadly Draught And steals our Life away. Virtue and Truth, driv'n to Despair Its Rage compells to fly, But cherishes with hellish Care Theft, Murder, Perjury. Damned Cup! that on the Vitals preys That liquid Fire contains, Which Madness to the heart conveys, And rolls it thro' the Veins.
Beer Street and Gin Lane by William Hogarth Original 195+-year-old Copperplate Engravings and Etchings from: The Works of William Hogarth from the Original Plates Restored by James Heath, Esq., R.A.; With the Addition of Many Subjects Not Before Collected: To Which is Prefixed, a Biographical Essay on the Genius and Productions of Hogarth, and Explanations on the Subjects of the Plates by John Nichols, Esq., F.S.A. London. Printed for Baldwin, Cradock & Joy, Paternoster Row by Nichols and Son, Parliament Street 1822 $4,995.95 Sold as a pair only. Additional shipping charges may apply to these framed items. Please either contact us prior to purchase for a shipping quote or look for an emailed invoice with any possible additional charges for shipping to your location. Please note: shipping may be higher than is calculated upon checkout. We may need to send an electronic invoice for any additional shipping/insurance. Please be sure to check your email or contact us prior to purchase for a more accurate shipping quote based on your location.

Return to Hogarth Home

Return to Humor and Satire Page