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Why did The Analysis of Beauty receive criticism from William Hogarth’s opponents?

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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’s The Analysis of Beauty (1753) drew significant criticism from his opponents primarily because it combined practical artistic advice with pointed, critical commentary directed at the established art world.1

In the work, Hogarth expounded on his aesthetic theories, advocating for "variety, irregularity, movement, and exaggeration" to achieve greater expressiveness, and championed the "beauty of a composed intricacy of form". By challenging the prevailing norms of the art establishment through these theories, he invited substantial adverse comment from those who opposed his views. While his ideas were received with respect in some circles, particularly on the Continent, the book served as a focal point for the rancorous debates on artistic matters that characterized the later years of his career.1