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Where did William Hogarth study drawing as a young artist?

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William Hogarth did not receive a traditional formal education in drawing during his youth; instead, he initially apprenticed as a silversmith at age 15, where he learned to engrave armorial designs.1

As he sought to transition into a career as an artist, he pursued drawing through the following venues:

  • Private Drawing School: At age 23, he attended a private drawing school in St. Martin’s Lane, where he practiced drawing from casts and live models.1
  • Thornhill’s Academy: In 1724, he joined a drawing school that had been newly opened in the house of Sir James Thornhill.1

Hogarth eventually grew dissatisfied with formal instruction, which he felt was akin to mere copying. He developed a unique method of "visual mnemonics," relying on his ability to observe and retain images from real life to avoid the need for preliminary sketches.1