Hogarth: His Life, Art, and Times

like a top, on the deck; and told him he was at liberty to proceed on his
voyage without farther attendance or molestation. With the slightest allu-
sion to the ludicrous particulars of this affair, poor Hogarth was by no
means pleased. The leading circumstance in it his own pencil has perpetu-
ated.
This anecdote, which if true Hogarth may have wished to forget, sounds like
a germ of truth expanded—more likely by Steevens than by Major or Strange."
Whether Hogarth saw France before this experience as he saw it after we shall
never know. His memory of it was grim:
The first time any one goes from hence to france by way of Calais he cannot
avoid being struck with the Extreem different face things appear with at so
little a distance as from Dover: a farcical pomp of war, parade of religion,
and Bustle with little with very little bussiness in short poverty slavery and
Insolence with an affectation of politeness give you even here the first speci-
men of the whole country nor are the figure less opposited to those of dover
than the two shores. Fish wemen have faces of leather and soldiers raged
and lean.
As soon as he arrived back in England he "set about the Picture"—it is not clear
whether he means the one he was sketching when interrupted, although this is
Walpole's interpretation. To this "I introduced a poor highlander fled thither
on account of the Rebelion year before brozing on scanty french fare; in sight
a sirloin of beef a present from England which is opposed to the kettle of soup
meager; my own figure in the corner with the soldier's hand upon my shoulder
is said to be tolerably like."
The painting (pl. 220) was done with speed but is a meticulous performance,
as careful and finished as Marriage a la Mode. When it was cleaned in 1966, the
warm colors disappeared and cool grays and blues and off-reds emerged: though
as detailed as a miniature, its style begins to suggest the broad, almost poster-like
handling of the Election series of a few years later. The engraving, partly done
by Charles Mosley, was published in early March 1748/9:
This Day is publish'd, Price 55.
A Print design'd and engrav'd by Mr. HOGARTH, representing a
PRODIGY which lately appear'd before the Gate of CALAIS.
O the Roast-Beef of Old England, &c.
To be had at the Golden Head in Leicester-Square, and at the Print
Shops.
Vertue, noting the appearance of the print, observes that the title is "a prodi-
gious Blunder of his—for he has represented a Man carrying a peice of (Raw
beef) instead of Roasted—as it appears colour'd only red & yellow in the Middle
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