The Flower Garden
May 1, 1777
Medium
Etching and engraving with watercolor
Dimensions
plate: 13 3/4 x 9 11/16 in. (35 x 24.6 cm) sheet: 17 13/16 x 10 11/16 in. (45.2 x 27.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941
Accession Number
41.25.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming 1777 print by British artist and publisher Matthew Darly captures the playful spirit of Georgian caricature. Titled *The Flower Garden*, the etching and engraving with watercolor gently mocks the extravagant fashions of the era, particularly the towering wigs and elaborate costumes worn by women. Darly, a key figure in London’s print, specialized in such lighthearted social commentary, often highlighting the absurdities of high society through clever visual puns. Created during a time when caricature prints flourished as affordable entertainment, this work reflects the period’s ...