19 Facts About Thomas Rowlandson

Thomas Rowlandson was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation.

Thomas Rowlandson produced highly explicit erotica for a private clientele; this was never published publicly at the time and is only found in a small number of collections.

Thomas Rowlandson's caricatures included those of people in power such as the Duchess of Devonshire, William Pitt the Younger and Napoleon Bonaparte.

Thomas Rowlandson was born in Old Jewry, in the City of London.

Thomas Rowlandson was educated at the school of Dr Cuthbert Barwis at 8 Soho Square, then "an academy of some celebrity," where one of his classmates was Richard Burke, son of the politician Edmund Burke.

Thomas Rowlandson later made frequent tours to the Continent, enriching his portfolios with numerous sketches of life and character.

Thomas Rowlandson's drawing of Vauxhall, shown in the Royal Academy exhibition of 1784, had been engraved by Pollard, and the print was a success.

Thomas Rowlandson produced a body of erotic prints and woodcuts.

Thomas Rowlandson illustrated Smollett, Goldsmith and Sterne, and his designs will be found in The Spirit of the Public Journals, The English Spy, and The Humorist.

Thomas Rowlandson's designs were usually done in outline with the reed-pen, and delicately washed with colour.

Thomas Rowlandson dealt less frequently with politics than his fierce contemporary, Gillray, but commonly touching, in a rather gentle spirit, the various aspects and incidents of social life.

Thomas Rowlandson's work included a personification of the United Kingdom named John Bull who was developed from about 1790 in conjunction with other British satirical artists such as Gillray and George Cruikshank.

Thomas Rowlandson produced many works depicting the characters involved in election campaigns and race meetings.

Thomas Rowlandson's caricatures include those on the medical profession which developed through his friendship with John Wolcot around 1778.

Thomas Rowlandson earned money illustrating books of physicians and quacks.

Thomas Rowlandson painted early scenes of Brighton where Michell's sister, Lady Anne Onslow, lived after the death of her husband Sir Richard Onslow, 1st Baronet.

Thomas Rowlandson's painting "Mr Michell's Picture Gallery at Grove House, Enfild" was sold by Sotheby's, London, on 4 July 2002.

Thomas Rowlandson died at his lodgings at 1 James Street, Adelphi, London, after a prolonged illness, on 21 April 1827.

Thomas Rowlandson was buried at St Paul's, Covent Garden on 28 April 1827 aged 69 years.