William Hogarth’s The Humours of an Election, on show at Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, portrays in grotesque detail the corrupt and dishonest practices used by politicians to win power. In the fictional constituency of Guzzledown bribery, intimidation, lies and antisemitism are rife. Britannia’s chariot has a broken axle, the sundial is engraved with the words “we are dust and shadows” and, in the final painting, the winner is toppled from his chair by stampeding pigs. The tricorn hats and breeches may be from the 18th century but the series resonates in the 21st as Britain prepares to go to the polls this week.
At the end of a depressing campaign, we are heading into a divisive election that will deliver a dubious