Drawing from Life at the Royal Academy, Somerset House
Medium
Hand-colored etching and aquatint; early state
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 11/16 × 13 3/8 in. (27.1 × 34 cm) Plate: 9 1/4 × 11 1/4 in. (23.5 × 28.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Enid K. Rubin, 1979
Accession Number
1979.569
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the bustling life drawing studio of London's Royal Academy of Arts at Somerset House with this vibrant 1808 hand-colored etching and aquatint by Thomas Rowlandson, published by Rudolph Ackermann with contributions from Auguste Charles P and Richard Harraden.itled *Drawing from Life at the Academy, Somerset House*, it captures artists intently sketching male nude models in a spacious, neoclassical hall bathed in natural light from tall windows. The early state of this print preserves its fresh, detailed charm, showcasing Rowlandson's signature satirical flair amid the serious study of...
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson|Rudolph Ackermann, London|Auguste Charles Pugin|Richard Harraden · 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...