1-192-395 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

Sigismonda, 18th century. When a portrayal of Boccaccio's heroine Ghismonda, by the Florentine artist, Furini, was sold at auction for £400, Hogarth was outraged, and convinced that he could do just as well. He therefore approached Sir Richard Grosvenor, one of the unsuccessful bidders, proposing to paint his own version of the subject, intended to display modern British painters' capacity to rival, and even surpass the Old Masters so prized by the connoisseurs. The pathetic, rather than heroic tone struck by Hogarth failed to please. Not only was Grosvenor unwilling to pay the asking price of £500, but Hogarth was unable to find anyone else to buy the work, entitled Sigismonda. This is an engraving of Hogarth's painting.