Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

On view 10 July–8 December 2024, this exhibition brings Perry’s six large-scale tapestries to a building where William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress, the inspiration behind Perry’s tapestries, was displayed more than 200 years ago.

The set of monumental tapestries offer a contemporary re-reading of William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress, a series of eight satirical paintings depicting a riches-to-rags tale of Tom Rakewell in 18th-century London. Hogarth’s original paintings were bought by Sir John Soane’s wife 222 years ago to be displayed at Pitzhanger. 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 will be in the unique position to be able to compare and contrast both intricately detailed morality tales in the home of Hogarth’s series.

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Image: Grayson Perry, Expulsion from Number 8 Eden Close (detail), 2012