Etching

William Hogarth's illustration of John Gay's "The Begger's Opera". In this plate, the character of Macheath stands in the center shackled. On either side of him is his lover and wife begging before their fathers on Macheath's behalf. The original print was commissioned by John Boydell, the leading print publisher of the day. This etching is the largest of William Blakes's reproductive etchings. The etching shown in the photographs is from the Heath edition printed in 1822 for Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, London. The piece is framed in a gold frame with a velvet matte.

H 25 in. x W 30 in. x D 1 in.

H 23.5 in. x W 28 in.