The Chamber of Genius
April 2, 1806
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 5/16 × 15 5/16 in. (26.2 × 38.9 cm) Plate: 9 5/8 × 12 3/8 in. (24.4 × 31.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.533.941
Tags
Art Historical Context
Thomas Rowlandson's *The Chamber of Genius* (1806) is a vibrant hand-colored etching that exemplifies the artist's mastery of satirical caricature during Britain's Regency era. Rowlandson, a leading figure in early 19th-century printmaking, delighted audiences with his witty, often irreverent depictions of society, blending sharp social commentary with exaggerated humor. Created as a sheet-sized print (10 5/16 × 15 5/16 in.), this work hand-colored after etching—a technique that added lively tones and made affordable caricatures pop in the bustling London print shops. The title playfully evok...
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson · 1756–1827
Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was an English artist and caricaturist whose satirical watercolors and prints captured the social life of Georgian Britain with unparalleled wit and technical mastery. Alongside James Gillray, he is recognized as one of the greatest British graphic artists, and his distinctive flowing line and keen observations have made his work integral to understanding late 18th an...