Maecenas, in pursuit of the Fine Arts.–Scene, Pall Mall; a Frosty Morning
May 9, 1808
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
plate: 10 1/4 x 7 7/8 in. (26 x 20 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Georgiana W. Sargent, in memory of John Osborne Sargent, 1924
Accession Number
24.63.256
Tags
Art Historical Context
James Gillray, one of Britain's greatest satirical caricaturists, created *Maecenas, in Pursuit of the Fine Arts.–, Pall Mall; ay Morning* in 8, published by Hannah Humphrey. This-colored etching, measuring 10¼ × 7⅞ inches, captures the biting wit of the Regency era through exaggerated figures trudging along London's fashionable Pall Mall on a chilly morning. The title slyly references Gaius Maecenas, the ancient Roman patron of poets like Virgil, here mocking contemporary "fine arts" enthusiasts—likely dandies or self-styled connoisseurs—braving the frost in pursuit of culture. Gillray's gen...