The Rivals
July 14, 1807
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 1/2 × 14 15/16 in. (26.7 × 38 cm) Plate: 9 3/4 × 13 7/8 in. (24.7 × 35.2 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
59.533.995
Tags
Art Historical Context
Thomas Rowlandson’s *The Rivals* (1807) is a delightful hand-colored etching that captures the witty spirit of early 19th-century British satire. Created during the Regency era, when social manners and romantic pursuits were ripe for mockery, this print exemplifies Rowlandson’s mastery of caricature. As a leading figure in London’s vibrant printmaking scene, Rowlandson produced thousands of such works, often poking fun at the upper classes foibles through exaggerated figures and lively scenes. The hand-coloring technique—applied by hand after etching the image onto a copper plate—brings vibra...
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...