How did William Hogarth support the Foundling Hospital?

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The Painter and His Pug, self-portrait by William Hogarth, oil on canvas, 1745; in the Tate Gallery, London. — William Hogarth *The Painter and His Pug*, self-portrait by William Hogarth, oil on canvas, 1745; in the Tate Gallery, London.

William Hogarth was a dedicated supporter of the Foundling Hospital, a charitable institution for orphans established by his friend, the philanthropist Captain Thomas Coram, in 1739.1

Hogarth’s involvement included several key contributions:

Portraiture: He painted a sympathetic, full-length portrait of Captain Coram and placed it on semipublic display at the hospital to highlight the institution's importance.1
Artistic Patronage: Beginning in 1745, Hogarth persuaded fellow artists to donate their works to decorate the hospital’s buildings.1
Public Exhibition: This cooperative effort resulted in the first public exhibition of contemporary art in England, which served as a significant precursor to the establishment of the Royal Academy in 1768.1

By leveraging his artistic influence and professional network, Hogarth helped transform the hospital into a center for both philanthropy and the arts.1