Arabia, from "Court Game of Geography"
1838–55
Medium
Engraving and hand coloring (watercolor)
Dimensions
3 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (9.5 × 6.4 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the Estate of James Hazen Hyde, 1959
Accession Number
59.654.16(31)
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of 19th education with *Arabia, from "Court Game of Geography" a delightful engraving by brothers William and Henry Rock, between 1838 and 1855. This petite print, measuring just 3¾ × 2½ inches, captures the Arabian Peninsula in intricate detail, blending cartography with playful design. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Prints department, it exemplifies the era's fusion of ornament and architecture in visual form, gifted from the Estate of James Hazen Hyde in 1959. Produced as part of a geography-themed playing card set, the artwork showcases fine e...
About the Artist
William and Henry Rock · 1821–1884
William and Henry Rock were British brothers and publishers active in London during the mid-19th century, renowned for their innovative educational playing card games that blended art, geography, and entertainment. Operating from 11 Walbrook after 1838, they produced hand-colored engravings that transformed standard card decks into pedagogical tools, with suits representing the four quarters of th...