Connoisseurs
June 20, 1799
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 11/16 × 8 7/16 in. (27.2 × 21.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.533.644
Tags
Art Historical Context
Thomas Rowlandson's *Connoisseurs*, published on June 20, 1799, by S.W. Fores, is a delightful hand-colored etching that captures the satirical spirit of late Georgian Britain. Measuring 10 11/16 × 8 7/16 inches, this print belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection. Rowlandson, a renowned English caricaturist, was celebrated for his witty, often irreverent depictions of society, blending sharp social commentary with lively humor during the golden age of British satire. The title *Connoisseurs* and tags—men, Cupid, and Venus—suggest a playful jab at self-proclaim...
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson|S. W. Fores · 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...