Narcissus

Location

Country: Germany
City: Berlin
Place: British Embassy

Thomas Rowlandson was born in London, the son of a bankrupt wool and silk merchant. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools, making a trip to Paris during his time there, and won the silver medal in 1777. During the next two decades he made several continental tours, visiting France, Italy, Germany and Holland, as well as travelling extensively in England and Wales. He exhibited from 1775 to 1787 and, in 1789, received a legacy from an aunt, which he is said to have gambled away. From 1798, much of his work was for Rudolf Ackermann, most notably his illustrations for the three Tours of Dr Syntax (published 1812, 1820, and 1821) and The Microcosm of London (1808–10). He revisited France in 1814 and Italy in about 1820. Rowland continued to work almost until the end of his life. He is most famous as a caricaturist, but his work also included figure studies, portraits, marine subjects and landscapes.

Places

Subjects

Materials & Techniques

colour stipple engraving

Artist

Thomas Rowlandson (1756 - 1827)
George Graham

Title

Narcissus

Date

4 August 1787

Medium

Colour stipple engraving

Acquisition

Origin unknown

Inscription

below image: Drawn by T Rowlandson Engraved by G.e Graham NARCISSUS Let van Narcissus warn each female breast, That beauty's but a transient good at best. Like flow'rs, it withers with the advancing year And age, like winter, robs the blooming fair. Publish'd Aug.t 4.th 1787, by E. Jackson, N.o 14 Marylebone Street, Golden Square.

GAC number

15752