Mrs Salter

This portrait of Mrs. Salter, around 1741, at the Tate, is one of William Hogarth's more conventional portrait commissions. While Hogarth is best known for his satirical narrative series, he maintained an active portrait practice that provided steady income throughout his career. Hogarth's oil technique combined firm linear clarity for his satirical figure groups with warm, painterly handling in the flesh tones of his portraits, demonstrating his equal mastery of the academic and the...

The sitter is rendered with Hogarth's characteristic vitality and direct observation. The warm palette and confident brushwork create a lively portrait that goes beyond mere likeness to suggest personality.