If I’m being honest, I never tried too hard to understand how government works in England. I like to think there are politicians wearing tweed suits sitting in wood, high-galleried rooms saying “My right honorable friend” and maybe the king shows up now and then.
I have a just a vague idea of The House of Lords, too. Nowadays they have a mostly symbolic role but for generations these dudes held unelected positions in government because they were aristocrats and clergy. I admit to feeling smug about how we don’t do this in the United States. As Americans, we don’t believe in aristocracy or oligarchy. Our government is founded on the separation of church and state.
Well anyway, I recently returned from London, and while I was there I took advantage of the opportunity to visit the city’s many fine (free!) museums. I was especially eager to revisit the works of the 18th century artist William Hogarth.
Hogarth is mostly known as a satirist, though he was perfectly capable of realistic portraiture, like this humanistic portrait of his servants.
Clearly, Hogarth chose to be a satirist when he had a point to make, most notably in his series Marriage A-la-Mode.
The six paintings in the Marriage A-la-Mode series tell the story of a bankrupt earl who arranges a marriage between his daughter and the son of a social-climbing rich man. The rich man is buying his way into aristocracy via the marriage. By the end of the series, we learn this marriage ends in adultery, murder and suicide.
You can just tell how much fun Hogarth was having painting the aristocrats and rich dudes. Here’s a detail of the earl (appropriately named Earl Squanderfield) resting his gouty leg on a pillow while pointing proudly to his family tree.
Compare the portraits of Hogarth’s servants to these aristocrats. While the servants are dignified, these guys look stupid, greedy and possibly inbred. They are wearing black patches to cover syphilis sores.
While I started this post saying I once felt smug about the House of Lords and how we in the USA don’t believe in aristocracy or oligarchy, I’m no longer feeling so smug. My country has a new presidential administration starting next week (or perhaps best to describe it as the return of the previous administration but with even more grudges, greed, and syphilis).
If Hogarth was around today, I think I know how he’d paint it.
How I got to London: flight from Chicago.
Where I slept: hub by Premier Inn London Convent Garden. Price: £100 for a single. Recommended: yes.
Picnic at the Cathedral 
I wonder what Hogarrh would have made of Elon Musk and the tech oligarchs who apparently strive to establish a House of Billionaires. Who needs a title, or maybe the new administration will start knighting them.
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He could paint the tech oligarchs being knighted on a golf course…
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😂😂
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Knighted with a golf club of course, and conferred with the ceremonial red baseball cap.
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Of course!
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Thanks to the last past the post system, Starmer gathered the most seats with the elast number of votes.
With his super injunctions against intefering in is his private life
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That one guy looked like Mr. Bean 😆
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Mr. Bean was modeled after him 🙂
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Amazing back then, satirists actually painted with paint each panel to tell their story. Where is the brick wall photo of..ie. which location area for last photo?
Today it’s a bit sad to read the latest declarations from new Prez.’s speech.
My hugs. May we all be safe and focus our energy /time with loved ones. ‘Cause in the end that’s what counts and gives the best memories.
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This last photo is from Brick Lane in London. Lots of great street art to see there and plenty of international foods.
I didn’t listen to or read The Felon’s speech, though I’m sure it was as sad as you say. Thanks for the hug—I needed that! Apologies to the people of Canada. The insults to your country—a long time ally—are appalling.
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My neighbourhood (well, I live in the next postcode over…) was where Hogarth lived and there’s a statue of the man on Chiswick High road of him with his frankly scary-looking dog. That thing could see at night, I’m telling you!
https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/hogarth-one-man-and-his-pug-2/
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That pug’s eyes are far too human! Though now that I’ve learned there’s a Hogarth House, I’ll not be able to rest until I visit it.
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