William Hogarth, 1697-1764, Painter [obverse] 1848

This bronze medal of William Hogarth was created by Leonard Charles Wyon in the 19th century. Hogarth, an 18th-century painter and printmaker, is depicted here in profile. He wears a soft cap, reflecting a casualness that diverges from the era's formal portraiture. During the 18th century, artistic and social circles often grappled with issues of class and representation. Hogarth, who positioned himself as distinct from the traditional elite, captured the everyday lives of common people. His work offered a new visual language that often critiqued the social mores of his time. The medal itself, made long after Hogarth's death, speaks to his enduring influence. It encapsulates how subsequent generations have remembered and honored the artist who dared to represent a more democratic vision of British society. The act of memorializing Hogarth through this medal serves to highlight the emotional resonance of his work and how he continues to shape our understanding of British identity and history.