Sealing the Tomb
William Hogarth·1755
Historical Context
Hogarth's Sealing the Tomb from 1755, in St. Nicholas Bristol, is one of his religious paintings that reveal a more devotional dimension beyond the satirical works for which he is famous. Hogarth donated this painting, along with a triptych of other biblical scenes, to the church of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. The religious works demonstrate his ambition to be recognized as a serious painter of sacred subjects, though contemporary critics generally preferred his narrative and satirical paintings.
Technical Analysis
Hogarth renders the biblical scene with the warm palette and careful figure arrangement appropriate to religious painting. The composition shows his ability to work within devotional conventions while maintaining the directness and human observation that characterize all his work.
