148 CAPTAIN THOMAS CORAM. 



" Before the birth of Hogarth there are many centuries on which 

 we relied wholly on foreign skill. With him and after him arose 

 a succession of eminent painters, who have spread the fame of 

 British art far and wide." The student, who wishes to gain some 

 idea of the early school of British art, will find the rooms of the 

 Foundling Hospital an excellent starting point from which to 

 commence his investigation. The reason of this was largely due 

 to Hogarth, who, from the first, cordially co-operated with the 

 Founder's aims ; he was elected a governor, subscribed liberally, 

 and painted several works for it. In May, 1740, Mr. Foulkes 

 acquainted the governors that Mr. Hogarth had presented a whole 

 length picture of Mr. Coram for the Corporation. Writing of this 

 picture Hogarth says " The portrait, which I painted with the most 

 pleasure and in which I particularly wished to excel, was that of 

 Captain Coram, of the Foundling Hospital, and if I am so wretched 

 an artist as my enemies assert it is somewhat strange that this 

 which was one of the first I painted the size of life, should stand 

 the test of 20 years competition, and be generally thought the best 

 portrait in the place notwithstanding the first painters in the 

 kingdom exerted all their talents to vie with it." In 1740 the 

 governors commenced erecting the present pile of buildings on the 

 piece of land which they had recently purchased from the Earl of 

 Salisbury. Then it was that Hogarth, with the co-operation of 

 other professional artists, proposed to commence the decoration of 

 the walls with works of art. For this purpose they formed 

 themselves into a body, which should meet on the fifth of 

 November, to consider what further embellishments should be 

 added to the hospital without expense to the charity. In this 

 was apparently the germ of the famous Dilletanti Society, and it is 

 recorded in a document headed " Dilletanti, Virtuosi, Feast," that 

 on November 5th, 1757, no less than 154 persons of distinction 

 dined together at the hospital. 



The donations in painting increased, and, being exhibited to the 

 public, drew together daily a crowd of spectators in their splendid 

 equipages, and a visit to the Foundling became the most fashion- 



