Thomas Rowlandson

1757 - 1827

Born in London, Thomas Rowlandson was a prolific watercolourist, notable for his individual social and political satires, as well as a large number of illustrations for novels, humorous books, and topographical works, but also for the quality of his draughtsmanship. His father, who worked in the textile industry, was declared bankrupt, and in 1759, the family were forced to leave London and moved to Richmond, North Yorkshire. Thomas returned to London in 1764, where he attended the Soho Academy and began creating humorous drawings. From 1772, he studied in Paris and at the Royal Academy Schools. Rowlandson's designs were usually done in outline with the reed pen, and delicately washed with colour. They were then etched by the artist on the copper, and afterwards aquatinted and hand-coloured. He dealt less frequently with politics than his contemporary, Gillray, and was more concerned with the various aspects and incidents of public and social life, as well as producing work on medical themes.