The Triumph of Hypocrisy

Art Historical Context

Step into the cheeky world of 18th-century British satire with *The Triumph of Hypocrisy a collaborative stippled etching and aquat created by Thomas Rowlandson, Collings, and Elizabeth on January 11, 1787. Rowlandson, a master caricaturist renowned for his witty depictions of Georgian society's foibles, joins forces here with fellow artists to produce a print measuring 12 1/16 × 15 7/16 inches. This medium—stippling for fine dotted textures and aquatint for soft, painterly tones—allowed for rich shading and expressive detail, making it ideal for Rowlandson's signature blend of humor and critique, widely circulated as affordable prints. The scene unfolds in a bedroom teeming with men, women, and dogs, embodying the title's barbed commentary on moral pretense. Through exaggerated figures and sly vignettes, the artists lampoon hypocrisy in high society, likely targeting the era's sexual double standards and social climbing. Such satires were a staple of London's print shops, poking fun at the elite during a time of political unrest and moral scrutiny under George III. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this work exemplifies how printmaking democratized art and dissent, inviting viewers to laugh at—and reflect on—the absurdities of human nature. A delightful window into Enlightenment-era wit!

About the Artist

Thomas Rowlandson|Samuel Collings|Elizabeth Jackson · 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...