Turkey in Asia, from "Court Game of Geography"
1838–55
Medium
Engraving and hand coloring (watercolor)
Dimensions
3 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (9.5 × 6.4 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the Estate of James Hazen Hyde, 1959
Accession Number
59.654.16(32)
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming hand-colored engraving comes from the "Court Game of Geography," a mid-nineteenth-century educational pastime created by the brothers William and Henry Rock. Measuring just 3¾ by 2½ inches, the card depicts Turkey in Asia with the careful detail typical of period cartography, transforming a map into both a learning tool and an element of refined entertainment. Produced between 1838 and 1855 through engraving and watercolor, such prints were designed to be engaging while instructing players about the world’s regions. In an era when geography was considered essential knowledge for...
About the Artist
William and Henry Rock · 1821–1884
William and Henry Rock were British brothers and publishers active in London during the mid-19th century, renowned for their innovative educational playing card games that blended art, geography, and entertainment. Operating from 11 Walbrook after 1838, they produced hand-colored engravings that transformed standard card decks into pedagogical tools, with suits representing the four quarters of th...