ON THIS DAY 250 years ago William Hogarth, the English painter and printmaker, died suddenly from an aneurysm at his studio in Leicester Square, London. As an artist who portrayed both the tragic and the ridiculous with aplomb, Hogarth was one of the 18th century’s most sparkling talents. His most famous work is perhaps "Gin Lane" (1751) (pictured; click here for larger image), an intricate etching that vividly depicts London’s poor grappling with gin addiction. It demonstrates both his humour and his heartfelt concern for his fellow Londoners.
