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The amazing web site of Shakespeare's Sonnets. The Gates of Calais, by Hogarth.

HAKESPEARE'S     ONNETS

This is part of the web site of Shakespeare's sonnets

 

PICTURE GALLERY.

William Hogarth 1697 - 1764.

The Gates of Calais  1749  

Hogarth had an unpleasant experience while staying at Calais.  While he was drawing the gate of the city he was apprehended as a spy and carried before the commandant, who told him that if the treaty of peace had not actually been signed, he should have been obliged immediately to have hung him upon the ramparts.  He was then commited to house imprisonment until he embarked for England.  Two guards conveyed him aboard the ship, nor did they leave him till he was three miles from shore.  They then spun him round like a top on the deck and told him that he was at liberty to proceed on his voyage without further attendance or molestation.  This print is his revenge for the incident.  He has shown himself middle left, sketching the gates, with a hand on his shoulder in process of arresting him.  The French soldiers are depicted as ragged and ill fed, amazed at the sirloin of beef which has appeared being carried by a cook, and probably destined for an English resident.  In contrast one soldier has a bowl of what is probably soupe maigre, and a pail of the same is carried past.  Some old barefooted women, no doubt street vendors, are looking at a skate which has a face similar to theirs.  The general message is that life in England is far better than it is in France.  


The Gates of Calais

  William Hogarth

British Artist and Engraver

The Gates of Calais, or The Roast Beef of Old England.  

Engraving, published   1749

The Original painting of 1748 is in the Tate Gallery, London.  
 




The Gates of Calais



Source:  Hogarth's Works published by J. Dicks, 313 The Strand, London.  Circa 1880.  

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Views of London
as it was in 1616.
London Bridge
As it was in Shakespeare's day, circa 1600.
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Views of London
as it was in 1616.
 London Bridge
As it was in Shakespeare's day, circa 1600.
To search for a line or phrase in the sonnets go to the
Sonnets as plain text

and use the browser text search engine.
     

 

 

 

Sonnets 1 - 50    Back to home page
Sonnets 51 - 100   If you have enjoyed this web site, please visit its companion -
Pushkin's Poems
Sonnets 101 - 154    If you wish to comment on this site please refer to details on the home page.
   Copyright Šof this site belongs to Oxquarry Books Ltd

The Gates of Calais


 The Gates of Calais

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 Copyright Šof this site belongs to Oxquarry Books Ltd