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The University of Colorado Boulder is hosting a world premiere shared staging of all three versions of William Hogarth鈥檚 鈥淩ake鈥檚 Progress鈥� in September and October.
Exhibitions of the original Hogarth artwork and prints by David Hockney, as well as the staging of Stravinsky鈥檚 opera, will provide a multidisciplinary interpretation of this seminal work in Hogarth鈥檚 career.
Collaboration among CU-Boulder鈥檚 Center for British and Irish Studies, CU Art Museum, College of Music, CU Opera, and the English and art and art history departments of the College of Arts and Sciences provides this unique opportunity in the world of art and music. While elements of the 鈥淩ake鈥� trio have been presented in the past, the event will mark the first time all three versions have been presented together. A conference will complete the opportunity for discussion of the works and their influence.
In 1735 the English artist Hogarth produced 鈥淎 Rake鈥檚 Progress,鈥� the second of a series of printed engravings based on what the artist himself called 鈥渕odern moral subjects.鈥� Hogarth鈥檚 story focused on a lusty rogue, aptly named 鈥淩akewell.鈥� After spending all his inherited money on clothes, women and drink, the rake ends up in London鈥檚 notorious Bedlam lunatic asylum.
The series was one of the works that raised Hogarth to the standing of a master, but his successors were just as important to the history of art and opera.
In 1947 the Russian-born composer Igor Stravinsky saw the prints on display in Chicago and enlisted the English writer W. H. Auden and the American Chester Kallman to compose a libretto based on the series.听Auden and Kallman recast a tale about 18th century morality into a libretto now widely recognized听as one of the finest of the 20th century.
Stravinsky, who was the first to be particularly inspired by Hogarth鈥檚 鈥渧isual theater,鈥� composed what has since been heralded as a masterpiece, even though it remains his sole opera composition.
Similarly inspired, the English artist David Hockney produced another set of prints based on Hogarth鈥檚 series, which retained the main title as well as some of the titles of Hogarth鈥檚 individual prints. Hockney also would later design costumes and sets for the Stravinsky opera.
Hockney, one of the greatest postmodern artists of our time and a visiting artist at CU-Boulder in 1965, went perhaps the furthest in meeting the Hogarthian challenge.听Hockney entered a new life when he completed the series. As it turns out, he had just sold his first prints in America. With that money he bought a new suit, bleached his hair and celebrated with new friends in New York鈥檚 gay bars. Whether he knew it or not, he would soon become a pivotal figure in a movement that would change the world of art.
Visual Art
The CU Art Museum presents听鈥淗ockney and Hogarth: Selections From the CU Art Museum鈥檚 Collection of British Art,鈥� curated by Lisa Tamiris Becker and Catherine Labio, 听Sept. 7 through Oct. 27.听The听exhibition听builds on the听strengths听of听the听CU听Art听Museum鈥檚听collection of British art and features Hockney鈥檚听first听major听print听series,听鈥淎听Rake鈥檚 Progress鈥澨�(1961-63) alongside听the听1735听series听by听William听Hogarth that was the series鈥� inspiration.
The opening reception for the exhibition will be held Sept. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CU Art Museum. The event is free and open to the public.
A large selection of additional works from the 119 Hogarth engravings included in the听CU听Art听Museum鈥檚听permanent听collection听also will be on view. More information on the exhibit can be found at.
Opera
CU Opera presents Stravinsky鈥檚 1951 masterwork 鈥淭he Rake's Progress鈥� Oct. 26 and 28 in Macky Auditorium under the direction of Leigh Holman and Conductor Nicholas Carthy. Tickets start at $14, with showtimes and additional information available at听.
Conference
鈥淭he Rake鈥檚 Progress: Stravinsky, Hogarth, Hockney, Auden and Kallman鈥澨齣s a multidisciplinary conference hosted by the Center for British and Irish Studies, the CU Art Museum and the College of Music. The conference will take place Oct. 26-27 in the British and Irish Studies Room in Norlin Library on the fifth floor, room M549. For details about scheduled events, see the conference schedule at 听.
A full listing of events can be found on the CU-Boulder Events Calendar at听听and on the website听.
Contact:
Lisa Tamiris Becker, CU Art Museum director, 303-492-8003
lisa.becker@colorado.edu
Laima Haley, College of Music public relations, 303-492-4247
laima.haley@colorado.edu
Jeremy Smith, Center for British and Irish Studies director, 303-492-8249
jeremy.smith@colorado.edu
