thumb|260px|A Sermon in [[Exeter Cathedral, pencil, pen and ink on paper]]

Thomas Rowlandson (; 13 July 1757 – 21 April 1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation. A prolific artist and printmaker, Rowlandson produced both individual social and political satires, as well as a large number of illustrations for novels, humorous books, and topographical works. Like other caricaturists of his age such as James Gillray, his caricatures are often robust or bawdy. His caricatures included those of people in power such as the Duchess of Devonshire, William Pitt the Younger and Napoleon Bonaparte. Rowlandson also produced erotica for a private clientele; this was never published publicly at the time and is now only found in a small number of collections.

Biography

Rowlandson was born in Old Jewry, in the City of London. He was baptised on 23 July 1757 at St Mary Colechurch, London, to William and Mary Rowlandson. The baptismal record for St Mary, now in the London archives, clearly gives his birth-date as 13 July 1757, not 1756 as given in most earlier biographies. His father, William, had been a weaver, but had moved into trading supplies for the textile industry. After overextending himself, he was declared bankrupt in 1759. Life became difficult for William in London and, in late 1759, he moved his family to Richmond, North Yorkshire. Thomas's uncle James died in 1764, and his widow Jane probably provided both the funds and accommodation which allowed Thomas to attend school in London. There is no documentary evidence that Rowlandson took drawing classes at the mainly business-oriented school, but it seems likely, as on leaving school in 1772, he became a student at the Royal Academy. According to his obituary of 22 April 1827 in The Gentleman's Magazine, Rowlandson was sent to Paris at the age of 16 (1772), and spent two years studying in a "drawing academy".

thumb|Rowlandson at work in later life, drawn by [[John Thomas Smith (engraver)|John Thomas Smith]]

The same collaboration of designer, author and publisher appeared in the English Dance of Death, issued in 1814–16 and in the Dance of Life, 1817. Rowlandson also illustrated Smollett, Goldsmith and Sterne, and his designs will be found in The Spirit of the Public Journals (1825), The English Spy (1825), and The Humorist (1831).

thumb|260px|[[Vauxhall Gardens (1785). The two women in the centre are Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and her sister Lady Duncannon. The man seated at the table on the left is Samuel Johnson, with James Boswell to his left and Oliver Goldsmith to his right. To the right the actress and author Mary Darby Robinson stands next to the Prince of Wales, later George IV.]]

Rowlandson's designs were usually done in outline with the reed-pen, and delicately washed with colour. They were then etched by the artist on the copper, and afterwards aquatinted—usually by a professional engraver, the impressions being finally coloured by hand. As a designer he was characterised by his facility and ease of draughtsmanship. He dealt less frequently with politics than his fierce contemporary, Gillray, but commonly touching, in a rather gentle spirit, the various aspects and incidents of social life. His most artistic work is to be found among the more careful drawings of his earlier period; but even among the exaggerated caricature of his later time we find hints that this master of the humorous might have attained to the beautiful had he so willed.

His work included a personification of the United Kingdom named John Bull who was developed from about 1790 in conjunction with other British satirical artists such as James Gillray and George Cruikshank. He also produced many works depicting the characters involved in election campaigns and race meetings. However, his satirical works of London's street life such as the "pleasure gardens at Vauxhall, jostling with soldiers, students, tarts and society beauties", which exhibit acute social observation and commentary are amongst his finest.

Rowlandson's caricatures include those on the medical profession which developed through his friendship with John Wolcot around 1778. He also earned money illustrating books of physicians and quacks. Later in life, he also produced caricatures on medical themes.

His patron and friend Matthew Michell collected hundreds of his paintings which Michell displayed at his country residence, Grove House in Enfield, Middlesex. After Michell's death his nephew, Sir Henry Onslow, sold the contents of Grove House at an eight-day sale in November 1818. One of the best-known of Rowlandson's paintings is "Hengar House the seat of Mitchell Esqr., Cornwall" (1812) which was sold at the Sir Richard Onslow sale, Sotheby's, 15 July 1959. Another of Rowlandson's paintings is "Glorious Defeat of the Dutch Navy Octr 10 1797, by Admirals Lord Duncan and Sir Richard Onslow, with a View Drawn on the Spot of the Six Dutch Line of Battle Ships Captured and Brought into Yarmouth" (1797). Rowlandson also painted early scenes of Brighton where Michell's sister, Lady Anne Onslow, lived after the death of her husband Sir Richard Onslow, 1st Baronet. Rowlandson's painting "Mr Michell's Picture Gallery at Grove House, Enfild" was sold by Sotheby's, London, on 4 July 2002.

Rowlandson died on 21 April 1827 aged 69 years, at his lodgings at 1 James Street, Adelphi, London, after a prolonged illness. He was buried at St Paul's, Covent Garden on 28 April 1827. Some authors have suggested that his housekeeper Betsy Winter who inherited his belongings was his mistress but this has been rejected by others.

Works

  • Cupids Magick Lantern Etchings for a work by George Moutard Woodward, 1797–98
  • Horse accomplishments Etchings for a work by George Moutard Woodward, 1797–98
  • Matrimonial Comforts (series of eight sketches) c. 1799
  • Le Brun Travestied or Caricatures of the Passions Etchings for a work by George Moutard Woodward, 1800
  • The Schoolmaster's Tour, accompanied by verses by William Combe (published in the new Poetical Magazine) 1809–11
  • Tour of Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque, 1812
  • The Second Tour of Dr. Syntax in Search of Consolation, 1820
  • The Third Tour of Dr. Syntax in Search of a Wife, 1821
  • The English Dance of Death, 1815–16
  • The Dance of Life, 1816–17
  • Characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders (series of sketches), 1820
  • An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously Tormenting (sc Thomas Rowlandson), 1808
  • Chesterfield Travestied, or School for Modern Manners (sc Thomas Rowlandson), 1808

<gallery widths="180" heights="150">

File:Thomas Rowlandson - Southwark Cavalry c1799 (coloured aquatint).jpg|"Southwark Cavalry",

File:Thomas Rowlandson-The Devonshire.jpg|"The Devonshire, or Most Approved Method of Securing Votes", 1784

File:The Progress of the Emperor Napoleon MET DP873956.jpg|"The Progress of the Emperor Napoleon", 1808

File:The Corsican Spider in His Web! MET DP809029.jpg|"The Corsican Spider in His Web", 1808

File:Rowlandson - Washing Day.jpg|"Washing Day" from Matrimonial Comforts, 1811

File:Portsmouth Point by Thomas Rowlandson.jpg|"Portsmouth Point"

File:Thomas Rowlandson - Cat Like Courtship - Google Art Project (cropped).jpg|Cat Like Courtship

File:Thomas Rowlandson - Dr Syntax outside the Halfway House - Google Art Project.jpg|"Dr Syntax outside the Halfway House" from Dr Syntax in Search of the Picturesque, 1812

File:Thomas Rowlandson - Doctor Syntax loses his Money on the Race Ground at York - Google Art Project.jpg|"Doctor Syntax loses his Money on the Race Ground at York" 1812

File:Great news - Rowlandson's characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders (1820) - BL.jpg|"Great News" from Characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders, 1820

File:Saloop - Rowlandson's characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders (1820) - BL.jpg|"Saloop" from Characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders, 1820

File:Curds and whey. A mother feeding her child - Rowlandson's characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders (1820) - BL.jpg|"Curds and Whey" from Characteristic Sketches of the Lower Orders, 1820

File:An obese bald-headed old man seated in an armchair while a s Wellcome V0019909.jpg|"Macassar oil", from Iconographic Collections , lampooning the false claim in some advertisements that Macassar oil would stimulate hair growth on balding men

File:Thomas Rowlandson - Comforts of Bath- Gouty Persons Fall on Steep HIll - Google Art Project.jpg|Comforts of Bath, 1798

File:Microcosm of London Plate 002 - Exhibition at Somerset House by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin. 1800..jpg|"Exhibition Room, Somerset House", 1800

File:Thomas Rowlandson - Vauxhall Gardens - Google Art Project.jpg|"Vauxhall Gardens",

File:Thomas Rowlandson - A Gibbet on the River Thames.jpg|"A Gibbet on the River Thames",

</gallery>

See also

  • List of erotica by Thomas Rowlandson

Notes

References

  • Grego, Joseph (1880) Rowlandson the caricaturist Volume I Volume II

Sources

  • British Museum, London
  • Thomas Rowlandson at the Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Lewis Walpole Collection Yale
  • Chris Beetles
  • University of Liege
  • Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires Preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, Mary Dorothy George. Vol VI 1938, Vol VII, 1942 VOL VIII 1947, VOL IX 1949
  • Dictionary of British Cartoonists and caricaturists 1730–1980 Bryant and Heneage, Scolar Press 1994
  • . 1904 reprint + Illustrations
  • British Museum Bio for Thomas Rowlandson
  • Prints & People: A Social History of Printed Pictures, an exhibition catalogue from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Thomas Rowlandson (see index)
  • Thomas Rowlandson exhibition catalogs
  • Thomas Rowlandson on Lambiek's Comiclopedia