Narcissus

Thomas Rowlandson (1756 - 1827)
George Graham

Colour stipple engraving

4 August 1787
  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Germany
    City: Berlin
    Place: British Embassy
  • About the artist
    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.
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    Materials & Techniques
    colour stipple engraving
  • Details
    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