Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences at the Pritzhanger Gallery

Britain’s great satirical artist William Hogarth has inspired an epic exhibition by Sir Grayson Perry CBE RA Hon FRIBA, arriving at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in Ealing from July 10 to December 8, 2024.

“The Vanity of Small Differences” is a modern-day counterpart to William Hogarth’s “A Rake’s Progress”, one of Hogarth’s most celebrated 18th century series,  chronicling the rise and fall of Tom Rakewell, whose pursuit of pleasure led to his downfall.

Taking Hogarth’s famed series as a starting point, Perry’s tapestries depict a corresponding fable of class, taste and social mobility. Weaving the complex ‘class journey’ of the fictional protagonist, Tim Rakewell. While Hogarth’s series is set in London,  Perry’s includes many of the characters, incidents and objects he encountered on his journeys throughout Sunderland, Tunbridge Wells and The Cotswolds for the BAFTA award-winning television series All in the Best Possible Taste with Grayson Perry.

Hogarth’s original paintings were bought by Sir John Soane’s wife 222 years ago to be displayed at Pitzhanger Manor, his show home in Ealing. The Soanes subsequently moved with their art collections to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. However, Pitzhanger continues to display a full series of framed 18th century engravings of A Rake’s Progress in their original setting of the vibrant red walls of the Soane’s drawing room.

Visitors to the exhibition and Manor will be able to compare and contrast both intricately detailed, humorous morality tales in the home of Hogarth’s series, providing a unique historical context.

From July to December the engaging, detailed depictions of British society by both artists  can be enjoyed in a beautiful setting that bridges the past and present.