# Jane Hogarth

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British print seller and businesswoman

Jane Hogarth Hogarth by William Hogarth, c. 1750 Born Jane Thornhill c. 1709 Died 13 November 1789 (aged c. 80) Chiswick, England, Great Britain Spouse William Hogarth ​ ​ (m. 1729; died 1764)​ Father James Thornhill

**Jane Hogarth** (c. 1709 – 13 November 1789) was a British printseller and businesswoman[1] who preserved the rights to the artwork of her husband, [William Hogarth](/source/William_Hogarth), after his death. She successfully continued to produce and sell his work for many years.[2]

## Early life and marriage

She was born Jane Thornhill around 1709,[3] the daughter of [James Thornhill](/source/James_Thornhill), a prominent painter at the time, and his wife Judith.[4][5] In 1729, she married [William Hogarth](/source/William_Hogarth) at [Paddington](/source/Paddington), without her father's permission. After a period of difficulty with her father, in 1731, William moved in with her at her home in the Great Piazza on London's [Covent Garden](/source/Covent_Garden).[6][4][5]

As William Hogarth became more successful, the couple bought a second house in [Chiswick](/source/Chiswick), where many prominent scholars and performers of the time lived.[7] They had no children, but were involved in Thomas Coram's [Foundling Hospital](/source/Foundling_Hospital).[8][9]

In 1760, William Hogarth fell ill, eventually moving from Chiswick back to their Covent Garden house, with Jane staying behind. In 1764, William died, leaving her the print business in his will.[10]

## Widow in business

*View of Ranby's House*, published by Jane Hogarth 1781

Following the death of her husband William, whom she outlived by 25 years, Jane Hogarth continued to sell his work.[1] She guarded his reputation and kept his papers.[11] Her control over William's [copperplates](/source/Engraving) was conditional: she could not sell them without the permission of William's sister Anne Hogarth, and paid Anne an annuity from the sale of prints.[11][1] She began publishing editions of engravings in 1765, and saw to the longer term rights in 1767 by approaching parliament.[1][12]

The protection under the [Engraving Copyright Act 1734](/source/Engraving_Copyright_Act_1734) was expiring on William Hogarth's earlier works. Jane Hogarth ensured that she regained the protections of her husband's initial copyright.[1] The bill[*[which?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Avoid_weasel_words)*] of 29 June 1767 extended her rights from fourteen years to twenty years, giving her "the sole right and liberty of printing and reprinting all the said prints, etchings, and engravings, of the design and invention of the said William Hogarth, for and during the term of twenty years".[1][13][14]

Hogarth produced prints and advertised them as authentic works of William Hogarth, emphasising their moral nature.[9][6] A cumulative tradition of commentary and biography was founded on the *Lettres* (1746) of the French [miniaturist](/source/Portrait_miniature) Jean André Rouquet, in London under [George II](/source/George_II_of_Great_Britain), and anecdotes supplied by [Horace Walpole](/source/Horace_Walpole).[15][16] Jane Hogarth produced an edition with Rev. [John Trusler](/source/John_Trusler) titled *Hogarth Moralized* (1768). [Bowdlerised](/source/Bowdlerised) versions appeared in the 19th century.[6][9] She had strong objections [1] to *Biographical Anecdotes of William Hogarth* (1781) by [John Nichols](/source/John_Nichols_(printer)), who found Trusler "dull and languid".[17]

Printer [Robert Sayer](/source/Robert_Sayer) also had an "almost complete set of copies" of painter [William Hogarth's](/source/William_Hogarth) plates and sold prints at prices that undercut those of Jane Hogarth.[18]

Hogarth also broadened her range. Bringing in [John Keyse Sherwin](/source/John_Keyse_Sherwin), Hogarth published *The Politician* in 1774, an engraving from a sketch supposed to have been made by William for his friend [Ebenezer Forrest](/source/Ebenezer_Forrest), which became included with prints of her husband's works.[1][19][20][21] Hogarth also worked with [Richard Livesay](/source/Richard_Livesay). They had a painting by William Hogarth turned into a print engraved by [Francesco Bartolozzi](/source/Francesco_Bartolozzi), sold as *Shrimps!*.[1][22]

Eventually, as the sale of the prints lost value, Hogarth was given a pension by the [Royal Academy](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Arts).[1][23]

## Death and legacy

William and Jane Hogarth's tomb

*Sigismunda mourning over the Heart of Guiscardo* by William Hogarth, for which Jane Hogarth was the model,[24] sold in 1790, to John Boydell[25][26]

Hogarth died on 13 November 1789 in [Chiswick](/source/Chiswick).[10][19]

Her estate passed to Mary Lewis, her cousin; who sold the rights to William Hogarth's copper plates to [John Boydell](/source/John_Boydell), for an annuity. Much of the remaining Hogarth collections, including *[Sigismunda mourning over the Heart of Guiscardo](/source/Sigismunda_mourning_over_the_Heart_of_Guiscardo)* and works by James Thornhill, was put up for sale, with [John Greenwood](/source/John_Greenwood_(artist)) as auctioneer, on 24 April 1790.[27][25] [John Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Ireland_(biographer)&action=edit&redlink=1) bought papers from Mary Lewis, resulting in scholarly works, *Hogarth Illustrated* (1791, 2 vols.) and *A Supplement to Hogarth Illustrated*, a biography (1798).[28]

Today the house in Chiswick is a museum.[29]

### Mary Lewis

Mary Lewis, portrait by William Hogarth

Mary Lewis was companion to Jane Hogarth, a first cousin, and a member of the Hogarth household remembered in William Hogarth's will.[30][31] She was also involved in the prints business, from 1764, with Jane and Anne Hogarth.[32]

She was daughter of David Lewis who was [harpist](/source/Harpist) to George II and a sitter for William Hogarth, and died in 1808. The remaining Hogarth collections then went to Phil(l)ip Francis Hast (died 1823), a cousin, of the household of the future [George IV](/source/George_IV). Eventually they passed, in 1939, to [Aberdeen Art Gallery](/source/Aberdeen_Art_Gallery).[31]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-9) Martinez, Cristina S. "Hogarth [née Thornhill], Jane". *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.310187](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fodnb%2F9780198614128.013.310187). (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Terry, Collen M. *PRESENCE IN PRINT: WILLIAM HOGARTH IN BRITISH NORTH AMERICA* (Thesis). University of Delaware. [CiteSeerX](/source/CiteSeerX_(identifier)) [10.1.1.926.8447](https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.926.8447).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Mrs. Jane Hogarth Artist Royal Academy of Arts"](https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/jane-hogarth). *www.royalacademy.org.uk*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Artist_Info_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Artist_Info_4-1) ["William Hogarth"](https://ngabiographies.org/biographies/williamhogarth). *www.nga.gov via www.ngabiographies.org*. Retrieved 23 December 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Thornhill_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Thornhill_5-1) Barber, Tabitha. "Thornhill, Sir James". *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/27350](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F27350). (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Uglow_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Uglow_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Uglow_6-2) Uglow, Jenny (2011). [*William Hogarth: A Life and a World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Twv6XOvoBFYC&pg=PA1417). Faber & Faber. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-571-26665-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-571-26665-4).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *A Celebration of William Hogarth*. William Hogarth Trust. 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["A brush with kidding Billy"](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/a-brush-with-kidding-billy-1238837.html). *The Independent*. 13 September 1997.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hogarth_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hogarth_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hogarth_9-2) Hogarth, William; Nichols, John Bowyer (1833). [*Anecdotes of William Hogarth*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rz5fAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA225).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Terry_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Terry_10-1) Terry, Colleen (2014). *Presence in print: William Hogarth in North America*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Paulson_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Paulson_11-1) Paulson, Ronald (1993). [*Hogarth: Art and politics, 1750-1764*](https://books.google.com/books?id=2c7L7UvYYgoC&pg=PA531). Lutterworth Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7188-2875-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7188-2875-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Liu, Deming (2016). "Aspects of the history of sculpture copyright in England". *The British Art Journal*. **17** (2): 64. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1467-2006](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1467-2006). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [24913910](https://www.jstor.org/stable/24913910).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Leeuw_13-0)** Leeuw, Karl Maria Michael de; Bergstra, Jan (2007). [*The History of Information Security: A Comprehensive Handbook*](https://books.google.com/books?id=pQBrsonDp6cC&pg=PA96). Elsevier. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-08-055058-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-08-055058-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Brewer_14-0)** Brewer, David A. (2000). "Making Hogarth Heritage". *Representations* (72): 21–63. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/2902907](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F2902907). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0734-6018](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0734-6018). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [2902907](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2902907).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Brewer55_15-0)** Brewer, David A. (October 2000). "Making Hogarth Heritage". *Representations* (72): 55 note 7. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/2902907](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F2902907). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [2902907](https://www.jstor.org/stable/2902907).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Rouquet, Jean André, or André"](https://www.oxfordartonline.com/benezit/view/10.1093/benz/9780199773787.001.0001/acref-9780199773787-e-00156870). *Benezit Dictionary of Artists*. 2011. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00156870](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fbenz%2F9780199773787.article.B00156870). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-977378-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-977378-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Hogarth, William (2013). [*Engravings by Hogarth*](https://books.google.com/books?id=2tnCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA37). Courier Corporation. p. 37. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-486-31716-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-486-31716-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Griffiths, Antony (1984). ["A Checklist of Catalogues of British Print Publishers c. 1650-1830"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41811970). *Print Quarterly*. **1** (1): 9–10. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0265-8305](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0265-8305). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [41811970](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41811970). Retrieved 15 May 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nichols_19-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nichols_19-1) Ireland, John; Nichols, John Gough (1874). [*Hogarth's Works with Life and Anecdotal Descriptions of his Pictures (Complete)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=kYdBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT44). Library of Alexandria. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4656-0804-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4656-0804-8). {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["The Politician Works of Art RA Collection Royal Academy of Arts"](https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/the-politician). *www.royalacademy.org.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Hogarth, William (1833). [*The works of William Hogarth, from the original plates restored by James Heath ... With the addition of many subjects not before collected; to which are prefixed, a biographical essay on the genius and productions of Hogarth, and explanations of the subjects of the plates, by John Nichols*](https://books.google.com/books?id=p40vRnG4y6MC&pg=PA35-IA1). Jones&Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Shrimps! : Works of Art RA Collection Royal Academy of Arts"](https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/shrimps-1). *www.royalacademy.org.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** [*William Hogarth: The Cockney's Mirror*](http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks14/1402611h.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Uglow, Jennifer S. (1997). *Hogarth: A Life and a World*. Faber & Faber. p. 612. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-571-16996-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-571-16996-2).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BM_25-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BM_25-1) "Mrs. Hogarth's Collection". *The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs*. **85** (499): 237–239. 1944. [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [869000](https://www.jstor.org/stable/869000).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Uglow, Jennifer S. (1997). *Hogarth: A Life and a World*. Faber & Faber. p. 707. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-571-16996-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-571-16996-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** Uglow, Jennifer S. (1997). *Hogarth: A Life and a World*. Faber & Faber. pp. 486 and 707. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-571-16996-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-571-16996-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Page, Life. "Ireland, John (c.1742–1808)". *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/14447](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F14447). (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Hogarth"](https://thelondonphile.com/tag/hogarth/). *thelondonphile*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Uglow, Jennifer S. (1997). *Hogarth: A Life and a World*. Faber & Faber. pp. 486, 680 and 695. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-571-16996-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-571-16996-2).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Melville_31-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Melville_31-1) Melville, Jennifer (2007). "A Journal of a Trip through Part of Flanders in 1726 by John Thornhill". *The Volume of the Walpole Society*. **69**: 185–209. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0141-0016](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0141-0016). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [41830061](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41830061).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Uglow, Jennifer S. (1997). *Hogarth: A Life and a World*. Faber & Faber. p. 700. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-571-16996-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-571-16996-2).

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