Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
The Progress of Virtue
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/john-hamilton-mortimer-389" aria-label="More by John Hamilton Mortimer" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">John Hamilton Mortimer</a>
I Hero Decides to Seek his Fortune
Purchased 1948
actions: expressive
adults
courage
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
group
groups
man
people
talking
virtue
<p>Attracted by the growing Romantic fashion for giving outlaws and anti-establishment figures heroic stature, Mortimer produced two complementary sets of narrative paintings entitled 'The Progress of Vice' (1774, now lost) and this, 'The Progress of Virtue' (1775). They continue the tradition of painted moral tales begun by Hogarth in the early 1730s, but lack his biting satire on contemporary society. By dealing with 'idealized' vices and virtues embodied in generalized heroic characters, they conform to the canons of history painting. Their simple moralizing tone and elevation of domestic virtues, however, is more akin to the sentimental genre of Greuze in France, and to early nineteenth century historical painting.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
I. The Hero Decides to Seek his Fortune
support: 765 × 622 mm
Purchased 1948
<p>Attracted by the growing <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/r/romanticism" title="Glossary definition for 'Romanticism'"><span>Romantic</span></a> fashion for giving outlaws and anti-establishment figures heroic stature, Mortimer produced two complementary sets of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/n/narrative" title="Glossary definition for 'Narrative'"><span>narrative</span></a> <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>paintings</span></a> entitled 'The Progress of Vice' (1774, now lost) and this, 'The Progress of Virtue' (1775). They continue the tradition of painted moral tales begun by Hogarth in the early 1730s, but lack his biting satire on contemporary society. By dealing with 'idealized' vices and virtues embodied in generalized heroic characters, they conform to the canons of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/h/history-painting" title="Glossary definition for 'History painting'"><span>history painting</span></a>. Their simple moralizing tone and elevation of domestic virtues, however, is more akin to the sentimental <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/g/genres" title="Glossary definition for 'Genres'"><span>genre</span></a> of Greuze in France, and to early nineteenth century historical painting.</p>
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2004-08-31T00:00:00
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actions: expressive adults courage emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas group groups man people talking virtue