Ian Hislop on William Hogarth’s ‘Humours of an Election’

With the UK heading to the polls in just two weeks, we invited the editor of Private Eye and ‘Have I Got News For You’ captain to tell the tale of William Hogarth’s modern moral series ‘The Humours of an Election’, which hangs in Sir John Soane’s extraordinary Picture Room. The four-part masterpiece captures the sublime and ridiculous extremes of a notoriously dodgy Oxfordshire by-election in 1754. For Ian, it’s a testament to Hogarth’s genius and his mastery of many comic elements that writers and satirists still use today! 🎨

[@ashroskell]

I would love to see Ian Hislop make a whole series on historical satire as expressed through fine art, like Hogarth here, and by the cartoonists of Hogarth’s era. Perhaps he could compare British satire to that of other countries of the day and various other historical periods? He could interview Mary Beard, Melvin Bragg and the like? He’s the perfect chap for the job.

[@matthewhiggins2699]

Great idea.

[@papamurrth1]

You would love his Radio 4 show "Ian Hislop's Oldest Jokes" I have unsuccessfully tried to find a TV show he did on the history of satire but I'm sure it exists somewhere 😊

[@PeppermintPatties]

National treasures. Including Ian. 🥰

[@christiner6000]

Ian is such a delightful chap. Loved his analysis of these clever paintings.

[@wowmanhaha]

No mention of the guy being hit by the brick through the window....!

[@mikewinston8709]

Ian Hislop is completely first class….fabulously erudite and deliciously urbane.

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

Lovely to have Ian comment on Hogath's legendary satirical works!

[@kidmohair8151]

personal opinion only. you cannot go wrong if you Have Mr Hislop analyze, almost anything.

[@belbrighton6479]

The Soane museum is an absolute delight and to see the Hogarth Election piece in person is a fantastic experience.

[@robertcook2572]

Dickens's description of the electoral shenanigans in 'The Pickwick Papers' is essential reading

[@Elitist20]

Quoted in this week's 'The Rest is History' podcast.

[@creativeartist83]

There's noone id rather have in charge of the country than this man

[@terenzo50]

An old one-panel cartoon had Diogenes out and about in his legendary quest with lantern held aloft and now confronting the honest man for whom he'd long been searching. Having found the fellow at long last, Diogenes simply says: "I was hoping you'd be taller."

[@wright661]

Thank you

[@AmySoyka]

Brilliant take on things. :)

[@hoilst265]

Love this. Small tip for your subtitles: put a black outline around the letters so they're still legible on light areas of the image.

[@creativeartist83]

Or get rid of them and stop putting them on every video for the morons who can't listen to what someone is saying

[@davidcossins1094]

Great video, but I would have loved better lighting on the paintings. Sadly, the camera did not stay long on the images referred to by Ian, so I could not follow them quickly enough. A longer presentation would have been better. I can't get enough of Ian! (Signed) Grumpy Old Man of Wantage.

[@martintremethick8370]

The drivers playing cards and gambling. Where have I heard that recently?

[@JoannaHammond]

Nothing has changed then ;)

[@willyum3920]

is this from a longer programme or series? surely

[@creativeartist83]

Why have you added subtitles when theres an option on youtube to do this??

[@danh945]

Politicians gambling whilst the country crashes? Bah - that could never happen these days!

[@btfox]

Pigs over the bridge, eh?

[@donaldauguston9740]

You bastardized the Churchill quote, but I loved exploring the paintings. Thank you for posting, DA

[@kidmohair8151]

I'd be willing to bet that Churchill stole the quote from someone else.

[@iainb1577]

@@kidmohair8151 Did you just hear me think that?

[@JelMain]

What was rational in 1680, when it could take weeks to reach the far corners of the Kingdom, so they needed representation, no longer is. Why does some heritage monarch have the authority to decide what's good for the Nation? OK, it's ceremonial, but now we have the possibility of online ratification by the electorate, why aren't we using it? I never thought I'd accuse Hislop of extreme Conservatism, but that's what he's become in his dotage, change-resistant.

[@spalftac]

Gambling during an election?

[@patavinity1262]

I think it's pretty asinine and trite to look at the past and say "nothing ever changes". Everything always changes.