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The Reith Lectures

Significant international thinkers deliver the BBC's flagship annual lecture series.

The Reith Lectures: Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art: Hogarth and Observed Life

23/10/1955

Hogarth and Observed Life

Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art, Hogarth and Observed Life

Nikolaus Pevsner considers the 'Englishness' of the artist William Hogarth.

The art historian Nikolaus Pevsner considers the 'Englishness' of the artist and satirist William Hogarth, and argues his work embodies the ideals of the Age of Reason. 

This year's Reith lecturer is Dr Nikolaus Pevsner, the German-born British scholar of history of art and architecture, and author of the county guide series, The Buildings of England (1951–74). In this series, Dr Pevsner explores the qualities of art which he regards as particularly English, as illustrated in the works of several English artists, and what they say about the English national character.

In his second lecture, Dr Pevsner considers the 'Englishness' of the artist and satirist William Hogarth (1697-1764). He explores the characteristics which he says make Hogarth a particularly English artist, and argues that his work embodies the ideals of the Age of Reason. 

The Reith Lectures: Nikolaus Pevsner - The Englishness of English Art

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Historian Nikolaus Pevsner considers some of the defining characteristics of English art.

Art historian Dr Nikolaus Pevsner explores the qualities of art which he regards as particularly English, and what they say about the English national character.

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