Frontispiece to "The Humours of Oxford"
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 7 5/16 x 4 13/16 in. (18.5 x 12.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of A. E. Popham, 1949
Accession Number
Museum Accession 1949.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving, dated November 1, 1807, serves as the frontispiece to James Miller’s comedy *The Humours of Oxford*. Created in the medium of engraving by Thomas Cook and published by Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme, the small sheet measures just over seven by four inches. It likely draws on earlier designs associated with William Hogarth, whose satirical style often captured the foibles of English society. The composition depicts men gathered in convivial scenes with dogs and drinking vessels, evoking the playful, sometimes rowdy atmosphere of university life that Miller’s 1730 play lampooned....
About the Artist
James Miller|William Hogarth|Thomas Cook|Longman, Hurst, Rees and Orme (British|British|British) · 1704 |1697 |1696 –1744 |1764 |1776
British, Bridport, Dorset, 1704–1744 London|British, London 1697–1764 London|British, London 1696–1776 London