A Young English Beauty
c. 1790
Medium
pen and black ink with black, gray, and pink wash
Dimensions
overall: 19.1 x 14.7 cm (7 1/2 x 5 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Julius S. Held Collection
Accession Number
1985.1.51
Art Historical Context
Thomas Rowlandson’s *A Young English Beauty*, created around 1790, captures the grace and charm of Georgian-era England through a delicate study of a young woman. Rowlandson, renowned for his lively caricatures and social scenes, here employs a more restrained approach. Using pen and black ink with subtle washes of black, gray, and pink, he achieves a soft, luminous effect that highlights the subject’s features and gentle expression. The compact dimensions—roughly the size of a postcard—suggest an intimate sketch, possibly made from life or as a preparatory study. This drawing reflects the la...
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson · 1756–1827
Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was an English artist and caricaturist whose satirical watercolors and prints captured the social life of Georgian Britain with unparalleled wit and technical mastery. Alongside James Gillray, he is recognized as one of the greatest British graphic artists, and his distinctive flowing line and keen observations have made his work integral to understanding late 18th an...