Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn by Wllliam Hogarth circa 1738

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Plate from Hogarth's Works published 1883 by Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier. Info from wiki: The painting depicts a company of actresses preparing for their final performance before the troupe is disbanded as a result of the Licensing Act 1737. Brought in as a result of John Gay's Beggar's Opera of 1728, which had linked Robert Walpole with the notorious criminal Jonathan Wild, the Licensing Act made it compulsory for new plays to be approved by the Lord Chamberlain, and, more importantly for the characters depicted, closed any non-patent theatres. The majority of the painting was completed before the Act was passed in 1737, but its passing into law was no surprise and it was the work of a moment for Hogarth to insert a reference to the Act itself into the picture.

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Size: 3896px × 3000px
Location: England
Photo credit: © Historical Images Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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