Comments on: Hogarth At St Bartholomew’s Hospital

By: Esther Wilkinson Rank

Esther Wilkinson Rank — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:52:40 +0000

I cannot agree with the earlier comment that Bart’s is a shadow of what it once was. Sadly there is no A&E here any more but it is still a hospital of great acclaim. Having had my life saved there some years back after a breast cancer diagnosis, I will forever be grateful to Bart’s and the NHS for all they did for me. And the small chapel called St Bart’s the Less situated within the Hospital grounds was always a wonderful, peaceful spot during some trying times.

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 12:49:43 +0000

Thank you for this reminder of Bart’s Hospital. Hogarth evokes the special place that this hospital has in the history of Londoners, His theme is humanity and that certainly was at the heart of this hospital. Back in the 70’s our local GP referred my mother to Bart’s for a enlarged thyroid . There was a certain Professor Besser who was a world renowned expert on its removal and he performed this operation which was at the time an incredibly delicate and dangerous operation . He was one of only a few surgeons in the world that could perform
this operation and he left a small part of her thyroid in place so that she never needed any medication. What is more she was left with an imperceptible tiny scar around the base of her throat so fine that you couldn’t notice it . My mother had this opportunity from the NHS and Bart’s could offer it because they had such highly qualified surgeons. My Aunt Lily was treated for cancer there . I had several occasions where I attended its accident and emergency. Now it’s a shadow of what it once was .

By: Jennifer Newbold

Jennifer Newbold — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 12:04:43 +0000

I have never seen this painting in person, but this past fall I saw Hogarth’s classically inspired paintings at the Foundling Museum. They are such a departure from what we think of as his customary cynical observations on humanity. Compared to his ‘Gin Lane’ they are completely bucolic…! It makes me wonder how Hogarth would have like to have been remembered.

By: Philip Binns

Philip Binns — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 09:03:56 +0000

Friends of Barts Heritage runs an excellent website with links to YouTube coverage of a series of regular talks and events. Well worth taking a look.

By: Sally Bernard

Sally Bernard — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 06:33:10 +0000

I had heard that young Doctors training at the hospital were required to diagnose the ailments in the painting during their training.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 06:16:53 +0000

This piece, it’s description, and artwork, made me breathless.
I liked the emotions and atmospheric tremendous feeling of being present there.
Thank you Gentle Author.