{On the brass plaque on the front of the plinth:}
William Hogarth, 10 November 1697 - 26 October 1764, satirical artist and illustrator.
Trained as an engraver, he depicted the unseemly behaviour of contemporaries in works like the 'Beggar's Opera' (1728) and the 'A Rake's Progress' (1732). Much of his work was pirated and he was instrumental in the passing of the Copyright Act of 1735 which was known at the time as 'Hogarth's Act'. He lived in 'Leicester Fields' from 1726 until his death.
He was buried in Chiswick Parish at St. Nicholas, London, W4 in 1764.
The bust is by Joseph Durham (1875).
Site: William Hogarth bust (1 memorial)
WC2, Leicester Square
There used to be a plaque to Hogarth somewhere in Leicester Square. Londonist found this lost plaque.
All four of the Leicester Square busts (Hogarth, Hunter, Newton, Reynolds) were removed in the 2010-12 redesign of the square, and we don't know where they went, but apparently Robert Davis was responsible - see Simon Milton.
One of these 4 Leicester Square busts can be seen in a scene in the 1962 film Primitives, in which the very prominent Leicester Square toilets can be seen, which we think are still at this corner, but much more hidden.
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