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Lacewing Fine Art
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Medium
drawing with watercolour wash
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Dimensions
14.00cm wide
19.00cm high
(5.51 inches wide 7.48 inches high)
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Literature:
Bibl Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs by E. Benezit
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Exhibition History:
Some of his watercolours and a few of the original drawings for 'Dr Syntax' are in the V & A Museum
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Description / Expertise
THOMAS ROWLANDSON (1756-1827)
‘Playing to the Children ’ drawing with watercolour wash - 14x9cms
A celebrated designer & etcher of caricatures and humorous subjects, Thomas Rowlandson was born in London, in July 1756, the same year as Isaac Cruickshank, six years after Bunbury and a year before Gillray.
At sixteen his aunt Chattelier invited him to Paris. By that time Thomas had already studied at the Royal Academy. He entered l'Academie Royale in September 1772 and became the protégé of Pigalle. It was here that he made rapid advances in the study of the human figure.
On his return to London he resumed his studies at the RA and in 1775 he exhibited at the Academy 'Delilah paying Samson a visit while in prison at Gaza'.
In 1777 he settled at Wardour Street & devoted himself to painting portraits, which he exhibited at the Academy from 1778 till 1781.
At this time he seems to have begun to forsake the pursuit of serious art for caricature, and his exhibits in 1784 - 'An Italian Family', 'Vauxhall', and 'The Serpentine River' - were signs of the change. He showed four similar works in 1786 & 1787 respectively. From c.1782 he found a ready market for his caricatures with Fores, Tegg, Ackerman & other print sellers.
The excitement of the famous Westminster election of 1784 carried him into political satire, and he found similar nspiration in the career of Napoleon, and the "inquiry into the corrupt practices of the Commander-in-Chief' in 1813."
He was a prolific worker and during this 'delicate investigation’ frequently drew and saw published two fresh caricatures a day.
The 'Miseries of Life', the 'Comforts of Bath' and the 'Cries of London' were all series extending over a year or two, and published later in a collected form.
From 1812 until his death, Rowlandson was responsible for the coloured plates in a magnificent series of books, which formed his principle work until his death in 1827. For all these illustrations he supplied the original watercolour and etched the outline on the copper plate, the aquatint and colour being applied afterwards.
On Verso: A wonderful drawing of a washerwoman & two little dogs
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