Thigh Protect, New Guard

Art Historical Context

"Thigh Protect, New" is a lively hand-colored etching and aquint created in 1798 by Henry Angelo, a renowned London fencing master, and Thomasson, the celebrated satirical artist known for his witty caricatures of British society. Produced during a time of heightened military tension with revolutionary France, this print captures a dynamic moment of equestrian sword drill, featuring soldiers, horses, swords, battle-ready poses. The title refers to a specific fencing or cavalry guard position designed to protect the thigh, martial instruction with Rowlandson's humorous flair. The medium—etching combined with aquatint for rich tonal depths, then vividly hand-colored—allowed for vibrant depictions of uniforms, horseflesh, and action, making it a popular format for affordable satirical prints in Georgian England. Angelo's expertise in fencing likely informed the technical accuracy of the maneuvers, while Rowlandson's exaggerated style adds comic energy, poking fun at military pomp amid the era's fervor for national defense. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work exemplifies how art intersected with culture during the Napoleonic prelude, offering visitors a glimpse into 18th-century Britain's blend of discipline, satire, and spectacle. (198 words)

About the Artist

Henry Angelo|Thomas Rowlandson (British|British) · 1756 |1757 –1835 |1827

British, London 1756–1835 London|British, London 1757–1827 London