After William Hogarth Beggar’s Opera, Act III, engraved by William Blake 1790

After william hogarth beggar’s opera, act iii, engraved by william blake 1790 artwork details artist prints after william hogarth 1697–1764 title beggar’s opera, act iii, engraved by william blake date 1790 medium engraving on paper dimensions image: 401 x 537 mm collection tate acquisition transferred from the reference collection 1991 reference t06462 the high point in blake's career as a commercial engraver was the commission for this engraving after hogarth. It came from john boydell, the leading print publisher of the day, probably sometime during early 1788. This, the largest and finest of all blake's reproductive prints, was therefore in hand at just about the time he was working on his first relief etchings (see nos. 20, 21). Possibly the fee he received for the work tided him and his wife over while this new method was developed. Blake did not immediately receive another commission from boydell. This might have been an extra incentive to exploit the potential of relief etching.