Tricks of the Turf, or, Settling how to Lose a Race
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1938-57-120
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Thomas Rowlandson, one of Britain’s most celebrated caricaturists of the late Georgian era, created this lively drawing in 1821. Known for his witty observations of social life, Rowlandson often turned his pen toward the excesses and deceptions of the British upper classes. The title “Tricks of the Turf, or, Settling how to Lose a Race” hints at the shady side of horse racing, a popular pastime that frequently involved betting scandals and fixed outcomes during the early nineteenth century. Executed as a drawing, the work showcases Rowlandson’s fluid line and expressive figures, techniques th...