Guyanna, 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(46)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming engraving titled *Guyanna*, from the series "Court Game of Geography," was created by William and Henry Rock between 1838 and 1855. Measuring just 3¾ by 2½ inches, the print was designed as a playing card for an educational game that combined geography lessons with entertainment. Hand-colored with watercolor over a finely engraved base, it depicts a map of Guyana, reflecting the Victorian era’s fascination with exploration and the British Empire’s expanding reach. Such games were popular in the nineteenth century as tools to teach children about distant lands through play. The R...
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...