London Outrider, or Brother Saddlebag

Art Historical Context

This hand-colored etching, titled *London Outrider, or Brother Saddlebag*, was published in London on September 10, 1799, by Rudolph Ackermann. It represents a collaboration between caricaturist George Murgatroyd Woodward, who likely supplied the design, and Thomas Rowlandson, whose lively etching technique brought the scene to life. Measuring roughly 9 5/8 by 7 13/16 inches on the plate, the print belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of works on paper. In the closing years of the eighteenth century, such affordable, hand-colored etchings formed a lively part of British visual culture. Rowlandson and Woodward were central figures in the flourishing London trade in satirical prints, which poked gentle or pointed fun at contemporary social types. The title suggests a humorous portrait of a traveling figure—perhaps a messenger or itinerant companion—accompanied by dogs, reflecting the period’s fascination with eccentric characters on the road. Today the work offers modern viewers a charming glimpse into Georgian humor and the collaborative world of printmaking, where publisher, designer, and etcher worked together to circulate witty images across the city.

About the Artist

Rudolph Ackermann, London|George Murgatroyd Woodward|Thomas Rowlandson · 1794–1832

**Rudolph Ackermann (1764–1834)** was a pivotal Anglo-German publisher, printseller, and entrepreneur whose London-based business shaped Regency-era visual culture through innovative printmaking and illustrated publications. Born in Stollberg, Saxony, he trained as a saddler and coach-builder before moving to London around 1787. He initially worked in carriage design and related trades, later esta...