The beggars opera [graphic].Hogarth, William, 1697-1764, printmaker[1728]eng"Satire on Gay's "Beggar's Opera". In the foreground a group of animal-headed singers portraying the principal characters are shown on an outdoor stage beneath which Apollo and a muse are lying, a lyre and guitar beside them. In front of the stage a group of musicians play simple instruments: bagpipes, a salt box, a jew's harp, a dulcimer, a bladder and string.To the left, a group of noblemen raise their arms admiring the performance; a crowd of women stand on the right, and in front of them a fat butcher and another man are seen in shadow. Behind the stage, to left, theatre boxes are crowded with an audience chiefly of ladies, and below is a wall hung with ballads against which two men urinate and defecate. In the centre background, is a street (perhaps intended as a backcloth) with an inn sign and gallows. To the right, is a conventional stage on which the Italian opera is evidently being performed and men appear to be pressing money on a woman singer. An angel carrying a ribbon lettered "Harmony" flies off at top right, and above is a ribbon lettered "et cantare pares et respndere parate". Four lines of verse beneath."--British Museum online catalogueTitle etched above image.Lettered within image, above with title, below with verses beginning, "Brittons attend - view this harmonious Stage ...".Tentatively attributed to Hogarth by Paulson (2nd ed.) and later (3rd ed., page 34) dismissed.Sheet trimmed to plate mark.Ms. note in Steevens's hand to right: See Nichols's Biographical anecdotes, 3d edit. p. 164.On page 49 in volume 1.