A little bigger (1791)

Thomas Rowlandson prints bring the noise and comedy of Georgian England into your home: crowded pleasure gardens, gamblers, coaching inns, doctors, sailors and the comic travels of Dr Syntax. Rowlandson was one of the great English caricaturists, a contemporary of James Gillray, whose quick pen and soft washes caught everyday life with humour. Our collection of fine art prints includes his satires, landscapes and London scenes.

About Thomas Rowlandson

Thomas Rowlandson was born in Old Jewry in the City of London on 13 July 1757. After his father's bankruptcy, an aunt helped pay for his schooling at the Soho Academy, where he drew caricatures of his masters before he was ten. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools, with long spells in Paris, and exhibited at the Academy from 1775.

An inheritance of £7,000 was soon lost at the gaming tables, and the example of James Gillray and Henry William Bunbury led him to caricature as a living. His drawing of Vauxhall Gardens, shown at the Royal Academy in 1784, was engraved and became a success.

Rowlandson worked for many years for the publisher Rudolph Ackermann. With verses by William Combe, he created the Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of the Picturesque (1812), his most popular work, followed by two more Syntax tours and The English Dance of Death (1815–16). He also illustrated Smollett, Goldsmith and Sterne. He died at his lodgings in the Adelphi, London, on 21 April 1827.

Style and Subjects

Rowlandson drew in outline with a reed pen and then added delicate washes of colour. For prints he etched the design himself, it was aquatinted, and each impression was coloured by hand. His line is quick, flowing and full of energy.

His subjects are the life of Georgian England: elections, race meetings, inns, pleasure gardens, doctors and quacks, fat squires and pretty young women. He was gentler than Gillray, poking fun at social life more than politics, and his calm landscapes and coastal views show a softer side.

Famous Works

• Vauxhall Gardens (1784). The crowded pleasure garden, shown at the Royal Academy and engraved with great success.
• The Comforts of Bath (1798). A series poking fun at invalids and pleasure-seekers in the spa town.
• A Gaming Table at Devonshire House. High society gambling at Devonshire House in London.
• Royal Cockpit (1808). Spectators crowding round a cockfight.
• Doctor Syntax, from the Tour of Dr Syntax (1812). The comic schoolmaster on his search for the picturesque.
• Napoleon le grande (1813). One of his satires on Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Margate bathers (1800). A seaside scene of bathing and bathing machines.

Decorating with Rowlandson Prints

Rowlandson's caricatures are made for rooms with a sense of humour: a downstairs cloakroom, a bar or games room, a study or a dining room. Hang a group of four or six in black or gilt frames on a traditional wall.

His scenes of inns, card tables and racing suit a club-style den, while his softer landscapes and seaside views work in a hallway or bedroom with country-house furnishings.

FAQ

Who was Thomas Rowlandson?

Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian era, known for his social satire and humorous illustrations.

What is Dr Syntax?

Dr Syntax is a comic clergyman and schoolmaster created by Rowlandson with verses by William Combe. The Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of the Picturesque (1812) was his most popular work and was followed by two sequels.

How did Rowlandson make his prints?

He drew in pen with colour washes, etched the design on copper himself, had it aquatinted, and the prints were then coloured by hand.

How was he different from James Gillray?

Rowlandson dealt less often with politics than Gillray. His humour is usually gentler and aimed at everyday social life.

Where can I see his work?

Large collections are at the Yale Center for British Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Related Artists

• James Gillray: fellow Georgian caricaturist whose example led him to satire
• Henry William Bunbury: amateur caricaturist and friend who influenced him
• George Cruikshank: younger caricaturist who also drew John Bull
• William Hogarth: the earlier English master of social satire