On the Right to the Front, Parry, against Infantry

Art Historical Context

This hand-colored etching and aquatint, created in September 1798 by fencing master Henry Angelo in collaboration with artist Thomas Rowlandson, captures a dynamic moment of military instruction. The scene depicts a cavalryman executing the fencing maneuver “On the Right to the Front, Parry, against Infantry,” complete with rearing horses, drawn swords, and soldiers in period uniform. Produced as a print rather than a unique drawing, the work was designed for wider circulation, allowing viewers to study precise combat techniques. Rowlandson’s lively line work and the delicate application of watercolor bring energy to what was likely part of an instructional series on swordsmanship. At a time when Britain was engaged in the French Revolutionary Wars, such images served both practical and patriotic purposes, training officers while celebrating martial skill. The combination of etching for fine detail and aquatint for tonal shading made the print especially effective at conveying movement and depth. Today the sheet belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, where it offers modern audiences a vivid glimpse into late-eighteenth-century military education and the popular graphic art of the period.

About the Artist

Henry Angelo|Thomas Rowlandson (British|British) · 1756 |1757 –1835 |1827

British, London 1756–1835 London|British, London 1757–1827 London