Thomas Rowlandson 1756-1827. British School 18th.Century. Watercolour drawing on laid paper on original mount. Depicting a country squire on horseback discussing the harvest with a tenant farmer outside a cottage. 20 by 16 cms image. 23.3 by 19 cms on mount. Some general time and mount staining, creasing and repair to top right corner all to no real detriment.
Thomas Rowlandson was a draughtsman and printmaker whose distinctive social satire has become integral to the popular vision of late Georgian Britain.
He was born in London in 1757 and educated at Dr Barwis’ school in Soho Square before attending the Royal Academy Schools from the age of fifteen. He lived in the centre of London throughout his life. He began his career by creating satires in the vein of his close friend and contemporary James Gillray. Unlike Gillray, however, he was equally adept making lyrical drawings and watercolours on a range of subjects, from imitations of Old Master paintings to picturesque landscapes.
He worked for many print publishers but his most important employer was Rudolph Ackermann, who kept Rowlandson in almost continual employment from 1798 onwards, making drawings for a wide range of books that exploited Rowlandson’s range for lyrical topography and gentle caricature. His drawings and watercolours were collected at the time by many wealthy patrons.
He died in 1827 and was buried in the church of St Paul’s, Covent Garden.
Rowlandson’s work was neglected during the more conservative Victorian period but since the 20th century he has been reappraised as one of the greatest of British graphic artists.