The Sculptor [Preparations for the Academy, Old Joseph Nollekens and his Venus]
ca. 1800
![The Sculptor [Preparations for the Academy, Old Joseph Nollekens and his Venus] by Thomas Rowlandson](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.artheonmuseum.org%2Fmet%2Fdp%2Fthumb%2Fthe-sculptor-preparations-for-the-academy-old-389527.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 11 15/16 x 9 1/4 in. (30.3 x 23.5 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
59.533.1833
Tags
Art Historical Context
Thomas Rowlandson's *The Sculptor [Preparations the Academy, Old Josephlekens and his Venus*, created around 1800, is a lively hand-colored etching that captures the cheeky world of British art studios. This satirical print depicts the renowned neoclassical sculptor Joseph Nolens in his workshop, busily preparing a Venus figure—likely for display at the Royal Academy—amidst male and female nudes that nod to classical ideals. Measuring about 12 x 9 inches, the work's vibrant hand-coloring enhances its humorous details, a technique Rowlandson mastered to bring his caricatures to vivid life. Row...
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...