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The annual exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water Colors was a novelty in 1808, for the members of the organization had only come together a few years before. They felt that the Royal Academy, London's more official art organization, with its heavy emphasis on oil painting, did not sufficiently value watercolor, and so the watercolorists struck off on their own. As always, Rowlandson was brilliant at capturing people unawares. Visitors drift to and fro with their little exhibit brochures, but most sit, talk, or flirt—and the children are, as always, bored.
Requires Photography
Exhibition of water-colored drawings
Thomas Rowlandson (English, 1756–1827)
Augustus Charles Pugin (English, 1769–1832)
Engraved by: Joseph Constantine Stadler (English (born in Germany), active 1780–1822)
Augustus Charles Pugin (English, 1769–1832)
Engraved by: Joseph Constantine Stadler (English (born in Germany), active 1780–1822)
Medium/Technique
Etching and aquatint with hand-applied watercolor
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Susan D. McKelvey
Accession Number39.314
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
The annual exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water Colors was a novelty in 1808, for the members of the organization had only come together a few years before. They felt that the Royal Academy, London's more official art organization, with its heavy emphasis on oil painting, did not sufficiently value watercolor, and so the watercolorists struck off on their own. As always, Rowlandson was brilliant at capturing people unawares. Visitors drift to and fro with their little exhibit brochures, but most sit, talk, or flirt—and the children are, as always, bored.
Descriptionfrom "The Microcosm of London"
R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, London, 1808-1810
R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts, London, 1808-1810
ProvenanceMrs. Susan D. McKelvey, Boston, MA by whom given to MFA 2/9/1939