William Hogarth's 18th-Century Series Marriage A-la-Mode Critiques Aristocratic Arranged Marriages

British artist William Hogarth produced a six-painting series in 1743 titled Marriage A-la-Mode, which critiques arranged marriages among the 18th-century aristocracy. The narrative follows the tragic union between the son of a bankrupt earl and a merchant's daughter, depicting scenes of infidelity, disease, and eventual death. The works illustrate societal practices like marriage settlements and pin money allowances. Currently housed at London's National Gallery, the series was poorly received during Hogarth's lifetime but is now valued for its historical insight into marital customs of the period.