Hogarth's 327th Birthday is a Crowded Affair

Trust calls for market stalls to be set further back from statue

Stalls around Hogarth's statue on his birthday. Picture: William Hogarth Trust

November 15, 2024

The longstanding ceremony of placing a wreath of autumn flowers at the statue of William Hogarth on Chiswick High Road took place this weekend to mark the artist’s 327th birthday.

Hogarth was born in Smithfield in 1697and acquired his second house in Chiswick in 1749 where he lived until his death..

The event, which has been held regularly by The William Hogarth Trust since the statue was put up in 2021, faced an extra challenge this Sunday (10 November) due to the Chiswick Antiques and Vintage market taking place at the same time. This required the wreath layers to squeeze in between market stalls to leave the flowers at noon.

The Trust has made a request to Hounslow Council that stalls be kept clear of enclosure around the statue, but this has not met with success.

The wreath at the statue pictured the day after his birthday. Picture: William Hogarth Trust

Jennifer Titmuss of Corky Events, which organises the antique market, says that she was unaware of the intention to lay the wreath and would have been happy to have had a discussion about an arrangement that would have suited all parties.

She pointed out that the licence her company holds for the event allows one stallholder to work from inside the railings as long as they stay a metre clear of the statue. She adds that there has been an ongoing dialogue with the licensing department of Hounslow Borough Council to ensure that the condition is met but she is unable to recall any discussions with the William Hogarth Trust.

Hogarth's statue on Sunday (left) and Monday (right). Picture: William Hogarth Trust

She commented, “The regular stallholder is an Art dealer who feels it's an honour to be able to sell his pieces in such a relevant place and is completely respectful of the statue and the rules around it. He places tables around the plinth at 1 metre away and then works around them. We have found this to be the most workable way to adhere to the licence.”

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