Marriage A-la-Mode, Plate III 1745

Bernard Baron created this engraving, “Marriage A-la-Mode, Plate III,” after William Hogarth’s painting of the same name. The print provides insight into the arranged marriages and social conventions of 18th-century aristocratic society. The scene captures a tense moment within a marriage of convenience. We see the husband, seated and nonchalantly pointing his sword, and the wife in conversation with her lawyer, Silvertongue. The composition of the room, filled with curious objects and statues, highlights the artificiality and moral decay of the upper class. The presence of a contorted looking skeleton in the corner could be read as a reminder of mortality, but also points to the couple's emotional and spiritual death. The artwork critiques the social norms that prioritize wealth and status over genuine affection. It shows the tragic consequences of marriages based on convenience rather than love. The narrative suggests the emptiness and unhappiness that often lie beneath the surface of high society's gilded façade.