1-192-380 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

'Analysis of Beauty Plate I', 1753. In the centre is the Medici Venus, to the left the Apollo Belvedere, Laocoön struggling with snakes behind Venus, Farnese Hercules in the centre foreground, and Antinous positioned to the right of Venus. By depicting these classical statues Hogarth is emphasising their classical beauty. He is holding them up as fine examples of the very essence of beauty and their dependence on the serpentine line. This is reiterated by the more common place images in the borders. Such as women's corsets, flowers, table legs, flowers, a bell and candlesticks.