A Rake's Progress A Rake's Progress A Rake's Progress is a series of eight paintings by 18th-century English artist William Hogarth. The canvases were produced in 1732–34, then engraved in 1734 and published in print form in 1735. The series shows the decline and fall of Tom Rakewell, the spendthrift son and heir of a rich merchant, who comes to London, wastes all his money on luxurious living, prostitution and gambling, and as a consequence is imprisoned in the Fleet Prison and ultimately Bethlem Hospital (Bedlam). The original paintings are in the collection of Sir John Soane's Museum in London, where they are
John Martin (painter) tremendous successes with their audiences, but wounded Martin's reputation in the serious art world. The painting "The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah", 1852 is currently at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne. In addition to being a painter, John Martin was a major mezzotint engraver and for significant periods of his life he earned more from his engravings than his paintings. In 1823, Martin was commissioned by Samuel Prowett to illustrate John Milton's "Paradise Lost", for which he was paid 2000 guineas. Before the first 24 engravings were completed he was paid a further 1500 guineas for a