Writers:

Timothy Roberts

Date written:

2012

Last updated:

2012

Professional jeweller, gold and silversmith, sculptor, engraver and diesinker. Born as Julius Hougaard in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 1820, and baptised on 4 February 1821. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Hougaard studied under Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen; however as yet no official documentation has been found to confirm this. On 11 December 1852 Hougaard arrived in Sydney from Hamburg aboard the Cesar Goddefroy and briefly prospected on the goldfields. Later, he set up a jewellery manufacturing and retailing business with fellow immigrant Conrad Erichsen, a Norwegian engraver who Hougaard had met upon the Cesar Goddefroy en route to Australia. By March 1854 Hougaard had anglicised his name to Hogarth, his business with Erichsen was known as Hogarth, Erichsen & Co. Hogarth was instrumental, along with other jewellers and smiths including Christian Ludwig Quist, Henry Steiner and Jochim Matthias Wendt, in the development of 'Australiana’ themed decoration on metalwork and jewellery, noted for the use of Indigenous Australian floral and faunal elements.

The partnership between Hogarth and Erichsen achieved great success, notably through vice-regal patronage by Governors Young and Denison, and the securing of many large commissions. Pieces of Hogarth and Erichsen’s wares were displayed in 1854 at the Australian Museum in Sydney, and at the Paris Exhibition the following year. Hogarth, Erichsen & Co. designed jewellery and household objects, including silver mounted emu eggs, which are reported to have retailed for sums upward of fifty pounds. Their premises were initially located at 255 George Street, Sydney, and the pair advertised themselves as watchmakers and jewellers. The firm moved premises in 1856 to 310 George Street, and again in 1858 to 312 George Street, the former premises of silversmith Alexander Dick. In 1859 the firm relocated again to 405 George Street, and in February 1861 to 295 George Street. It is likely that these repeated relocations were associated with business troubles the firm experienced towards the end of the 1850s. Hogarth and Erichsen enjoyed having their wares retailed by Sydney jewellers Hardy Brothers, and Flavelle Bros. & Co, who were also known to commission works from the firm. In January 1861 Hogarth and Erichsen dissolved their partnership and the firm was declared insolvent. Works by Hogarth were displayed by Lady Young, wife of Governor Sir John Young, at the New South Wales Exhibition in October 1861 and the London International Exhibition of 1862.

In late 1861 Hogarth re-established himself at 9 Hunter Street, Sydney, and worked as a contractor for the jeweller Adolphus Blau. Hogarth was robbed at these premises around Christmas 1862; a quantity of both stock and items for repair were taken. Hogarth used this robbery as the reason for his second insolvency on 9 May 1864. Despite his worsening financial situation, in late 1863 he had presented a solid gold casket to Government House in Sydney, commissioned by the Governor’s wife as a gift to the Danish Princess Alexandria from the ladies of New South Wales. The piece featured moulded decoration of Indigenous figures, emus, crests, and Australian flora with a specially constructed base of Myall wood and silver once again depicting Australian floral and faunal elements. The piece is reported to have weighed in excess of 100 ounces. During his bankruptcy in 1864, Hogarth moved to 21 Hunter Street.

Hogarth’s relationship with other artists living in Australia at the time has been widely documented. During Hogarth’s second bankruptcy, debts owed to both Alexander Habbe and Knud Bull were recorded. It is possible that Habbe and Bull were engaged in design work for Hogarth. An ambrotype portrait of Hogarth with a pair of gold figures was displayed in the shop of photographic artist Lawson Insley. Publisher John Degotardi commissioned works from Hogarth. Hogarth forged relationships with a number of other jewellers around the Sydney region. Silversmith Evan Jones was apprenticed to Hogarth, Erichsen & Co, and Christian Hafer is known to have engaged with the firm in the capacity of watchmaker and jeweller. Christian Ludwig Quist worked with Hogarth for several months in 1861, and Hermann Finckh was employed on a casual basis for the company. Augustus Kosvitz, a watchmaker who later would establish a jewellery manufacturing business in Brisbane, also worked for the company, describing himself as a partner to the firm. Hogarth’s various bankruptcy records list debts to other artisans for work done, including jewellers John (Johann) Berthold, James Bowen, Gustavus Schroeter, Veyret & Delarue, and watchmakers Edwin Beckmann, Alexander Conray, Alfred Joseph, Theodor Lassen.

Around 1866 Hogarth moved to Melbourne and was recorded as a chaser and goldsmith; in 1866 he is listed as operating from 13 Bourke Street West. Hogarth displayed wares at the 1866-1867 Melbourne Intercolonial Exhibition. He was declared insolvent for a third time on 18 December 1866. Hogarth was employed by Walsh Brothers in Melbourne, and undertook work for the firm Thomas Young & Son. He was employed in engraving and die sinking for Stokes & Co, and in 1873 designed a medallion which was struck at the Melbourne Exhibition. This medallion was later used for several subsequent Australian exhibitions in the 19th century, proclaiming the talents of Hogarth as a diesinker. He was awarded a bronze medal at the 1875 Victorian Intercolonial Exhibition for the impressions on his medals. Hogarth returned to Sydney in 1878 and opened premises at Newtown.

Hogarth had married in 1842, but divorced before his move to Australia. The relationship produced one son. In 1858 he married Charlotte Elizabeth Tegg, daughter of Sydney bookseller James Tegg. The couple bore seven children, one whom died in infancy. On 5 March 1879 Hogarth died as a result of chronic liver disease, and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney. He was survived by his second wife and six children, and the son of his first marriage.

Hogarth’s work is distinguished by the use of a variety of Australian motifs, with particular inclusion of animals, Indigenous figures, and selected specimens of native plants. Particular attention to details are evident in his pieces. The results of the bankruptcies upon Hogarth’s career mean that many of the pieces executed by him are unmarked, or marked by the company which he worked for, providing uncertain provenance links to the artist. In addition to this, not all pieces executed by Hogarth, Erichsen & Co. are marked. It is for this reason that many pieces of silver and gold smithing are only attributed to this maker. Hogarth’s makers mark on his die sinking efforts was the initials J.H or I.H. Pieces attributed to Hogarth are held in the collections of The National Library of Australia, Canberra; The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; Museum Victoria, Melbourne; The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney; The Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane; and private collections nationally and internationally.

Writers:

Roberts, Timothy Note:

Date written:

2011

Last updated:

2011

Status:

peer-reviewed