View source for Thomas Rowlandson

{{Short description|English artist and caricaturist (1757–1827)}}
{{for|the footballer|Tom Rowlandson}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Thomas Rowlandson
|image = Thomas Rowlandson portrait.jpg
|caption = Thomas Rowlandson, pencil sketch by [[George Henry Harlow]], 1814
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1757|07|13|}}
|birth_place = [[London]], [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1827|04|21|1757|07|13|}}
|death_place = London, [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]
|occupation = Artist
}}
[[File:A Sermon in Exeter Cathedral.jpg|thumb|260px|''A Sermon in Exeter Cathedral'', pencil, pen and ink on paper]]

'''Thomas Rowlandson''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|oʊ|l|ən|d|s|ən}}; 13 July 1757{{snd}}21 April 1827)<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB | title = The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/24221 | year = 2004 | pmid =  | pmc = }}</ref> 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. Rowlandson also produced highly explicit erotica for a private clientele; this was never published publicly at the time and is now only found in a small number of collections. His caricatures included those of people in power such as the [[Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire|Duchess of Devonshire]], [[William Pitt the Younger]] and [[Napoleon Bonaparte]].

== 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.{{sfn|Payne|Payne|2010|p=2}}  His father, William, had been a weaver, but had moved into trading supplies for the textile industry and after overextending himself 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.{{sfn|Payne|Payne|2010|pp=8–14}}<ref name="ODNB" />

Rowlandson was educated at the school of Dr Cuthbert Barwis at 8 [[Soho Square]], then "an academy of some celebrity," where one of his classmates was Richard Burke, son of the politician [[Edmund Burke]]. As a schoolboy, Rowlandson "drew {{as written|humourous}} characters of his master and many of his scholars before he was ten years old," covering the margins of his schoolbooks with his artwork.<ref name = "GM">Rowlandson obituary in Sylvanus Urban, ''The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle,'' Volume 97, Part 1, Jan–June 1827 (London: J B Nichols, 1827), page 564</ref>

In 1765 or 1766 he started at the Soho Academy.{{sfn|Payne|Payne|2010|pp=8–14}} 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]].{{sfn|Payne|Payne|2010|p=15}} 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."<ref name = "GM"/> there. In Paris he studied drawing "the human figure" and continued developing his youthful skill in [[caricature]].<ref name = "GM"/> It was on his return to London that he took classes at the [[Royal Academy]], then based at [[Somerset House]].<ref name = "GM"/>

Rowlandson spent six years studying at the Royal Academy, but about a third of this time was spent in [[Paris, France|Paris]] where he may have studied under [[Jean-Baptiste Pigalle]].{{sfn|Payne|Payne|2010|p=26}} He later made frequent tours to the Continent, enriching his [[Career portfolio|portfolio]]s with numerous sketches of life and character. In 1775 he exhibited a drawing of ''Dalilah Payeth Sampson a Visit while in Prison at Gaza'' at the Royal Academy and two years later received a silver medal for a bas-relief figure. He was spoken of as a promising student. On the death of his aunt, he inherited £7,000 with which he plunged into the dissipations of the town and was known to sit at the gaming-table for 36&nbsp;hours at a stretch.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=787}}

[[Image:Rowlandson-Epicure.jpg|left|thumb|upright|''Discomforts of an Epicure'', a self-portrait from 1787, showed that he could aim his caricatures at himself.]]
In time poverty overtook him; and the friendship and examples of [[James Gillray]] and [[Henry William Bunbury]] seem to have suggested [[caricature]] as a means of earning a living. His drawing of [[Vauxhall]], shown in the Royal Academy exhibition of 1784, had been engraved by Pollard, and the print was a success. Rowlandson was largely employed by [[Rudolph Ackermann]], the art publisher, who in 1809—issued in his ''Poetical Magazine'' ''The Schoolmaster's Tour''—a series of plates with illustrative verses by Dr. [[William Combe]]. They were the most popular of the artist's works. Again engraved by Rowlandson himself in 1812, and issued under the title of the ''Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of the Picturesque,'' they had attained a fifth edition by 1813, and were followed in 1820 by ''Dr Syntax in Search of Consolation,'' and in 1821 by the ''Third Tour of Dr Syntax in Search of a Wife''.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=787–788}} He also produced a body of erotic prints and woodcuts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thomas Rowlandson {{!}} English painter and caricaturist |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Rowlandson |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Britannica  |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Thomas Rowlandson, aged 70 MET DP805070.jpg|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 [[Tobias Smollett|Smollett]], [[Oliver Goldsmith|Goldsmith]] and [[Laurence Sterne|Sterne]], and his designs will be found in ''The Spirit of the Public Journals'' (1825), ''The English Spy'' (1825), and ''The Humorist'' (1831).

[[File:Thomas Rowlandson - Vaux-Hall - Dr. Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, Mary Robinson, et al.jpg|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 of the United Kingdom|George IV]].]]

Rowlandson's designs were usually done in outline with the reed-pen, and delicately washed with colour. They were then [[etching|etched]] by the artist on the copper, and afterwards [[aquatint]]ed—usually by a professional [[engraver]], the impressions being finally coloured by hand. As a designer he was characterised by his facility and ease of [[drawing|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.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=788}}

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 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-12-29 |title=High Spirits: The Comic Art of Thomas Rowlandson – review |url=http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/dec/29/high-spirits-thomas-rowlandson-review |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=The Guardian |language=en |first1=Laura |last1=Cumming }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Butterfield|first=William C.|date=1973-04-02|title=The Medical Caricatures of Thomas Rowlandson|journal=JAMA|language=en|volume=224|issue=1|pages=113–117|doi=10.1001/jama.1973.03220140081016|pmid=4570139|issn=0098-7484}}</ref> Later in life, he also produced caricatures on medical themes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Vincent|first=L M|date=2005|title=The Anatomist by Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827): The Play's the Thing|journal=Medical History|volume=49|issue=2|pages=213–218|issn=0025-7273|pmc=1088220|pmid=15895757|doi=10.1017/s0025727300008589}}</ref>

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 {{Sic|Matthw}} 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 at his lodgings at 1 James Street, Adelphi, London, after a prolonged illness, on 21 April 1827. He was buried at [[St Paul's, Covent Garden]] on 28 April 1827 aged 69 years. Some authors have suggested that his housekeeper Betsy Winter who inherited his belongings was his mistress but this has been rejected by others.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sherry|first=James|date=1978|title=Distance and Humor; The Art of Thomas Rowlandson|journal=Eighteenth-Century Studies|language=en|volume=11|issue=4|pages=457–472|doi=10.2307/2737966|issn=0013-2586|jstor=2737966}}</ref>

==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.&nbsp;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==
<gallery widths="180" heights="150">
File:Southwark cavalry.jpg |"A Southwark Volunteer Cavalryman", {{Circa|1798}}
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'' {{Circa|1814}}, lampooning the [[Snake oil|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", {{Circa|1784}}
File:Thomas Rowlandson - A Gibbet on the River Thames.jpg|"A Gibbet on the River Thames", {{Circa|1790}}
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[List of erotic etchings and drawings by Thomas Rowlandson]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{Cite book |title = Thomas Rowlandson: His Life and Art |last = Falk |first = Bernard |publisher = Beechhurst Press |year = 1952}}
*{{Cite Q |Q117185079 |last1=Payne |first1=Matthew |last2=Payne |first2=James |year=2010}}
* [[Joseph Grego|Grego, Joseph]] (1880) ''Rowlandson the caricaturist'' [https://archive.org/details/rowlandsoncarica01greguoft/page/n6 Volume I] [https://archive.org/details/rowlandsoncarica02greg_0/page/n7 Volume II]

==Sources==
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Rowlandson, Thomas|volume=23|pages=787–788}}
* [http://www.bmimages.com/ British Museum, London]
* [https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?listing_type=imagetext&offset=0&limit=15&narrow=0&q=thomas+rowlandson&commit=Search&quality=0&objectnamesearch=&placesearch=&after=&after-adbc=AD&before=&before-adbc=AD&namesearch=&materialsearch=&mnsearch=&locationsearch= Thomas Rowlandson at the Victoria and Albert Museum]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091129150625/http://lwlimages.library.yale.edu/walpoleweb/ Lewis Walpole Collection Yale]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060528044602/http://www.chrisbeetles.com/pictures/artists/Rowlandson_Thomas/Rowlandson_Thomas.htm Chris Beetles]
* [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.ulg.ac.be/wittert/fr/flori/opera/rowlandson/rowlandson_notice.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Thomas%2BRowlandson%2522%2B1756%26start%3D80%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26c2coff%3D1%26sa%3DN 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
* {{Citation
|date = 1808 
|title = Microcosm of London 
|author= Rudolph Ackermann 
|others=Illustrated by [[Augustus Charles Pugin]] and Thomas Rowlandson
|author-link = Rudolph Ackermann 
}}. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL7021107M/Microcosm_of_London 1904 reprint] + [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Microcosm_of_London Illustrations]

==External links==
{{commons|Thomas Rowlandson}}
*[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=109191 British Museum Bio for Thomas Rowlandson]
{{wikisource author}}
* {{Gutenberg author | id=28396}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Thomas Rowlandson}}
* [http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/94303/rec/1 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)
* [http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/field/subjec/searchterm/Rowlandson,%20Thomas,%201756-1827%20--%20Exhibitions/mode/exact Thomas Rowlandson exhibition catalogs]
* [https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/rowlandson_thomas.htm Thomas Rowlandson] on Lambiek's ''[[Comiclopedia]]''

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowlandson, Thomas}}
[[Category:1757 births]]
[[Category:1827 deaths]]
[[Category:18th-century English male artists]]
[[Category:19th-century English male artists]]
[[Category:English illustrators]]
[[Category:English cartoonists]]
[[Category:English caricaturists]]
[[Category:English satirists]]
[[Category:British erotic artists]]
[[Category:People from the City of London]]
[[Category:English watercolourists]]