FDA-D.447-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-D.447-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
Englishmen in November and Frenchmen in November
Pilkington
Pilkington
Title Type
assigned by artist
collection
collection
Comments
Born in London, Rowlandson attended the Royal Academy Schools from 1772. Most of his early exhibits were small portraits, but by the early 1780s he had established the vein of social comedy which was to occupy his career. From 1784, he was heavily engaged as a political satirist, frequently drawing directly onto the etching plate to ensure the speedy production of his topical images. He made his first trip to Paris in 1774, and may have visited France as many as three times in the following decade. Rowlandson never lost his affection for French art, even when exploiting to the full Britain's deep distrust of the traditional enemy. During the 1780s, he produced several pairs of watercolours contrasting the English and the French, to the evident disadvantage of the latter. Here, however, the satire is more at the expense of the English, perhaps due to the intended place of publication of the images as two prints in the Hibernian Magazine, where they appeared in 1790.
The accompanying commentary draws attention to the deep melancholy of the English, in contrast to the gaiety of the French. The Englishman on the extreme right is putting a pistol to his head, while his neighbour, having set down his copy of Goethe's Werther, contemplates a dagger. The figure beside his is posed in the attitude of the great classical model of despair, Laocoon.
This is one of several pairs of watercolours painted by Rowlandson during the 1780s comparing the English with the French. The image appeared as two prints in the 'Hibernian Magazine' in 1790
The accompanying commentary draws attention to the deep melancholy of the English, in contrast to the gaiety of the French. The Englishman on the extreme right is putting a pistol to his head, while his neighbour, having set down his copy of Goethe's Werther, contemplates a dagger. The figure beside his is posed in the attitude of the great classical model of despair, Laocoon.
This is one of several pairs of watercolours painted by Rowlandson during the 1780s comparing the English with the French. The image appeared as two prints in the 'Hibernian Magazine' in 1790
Other number
Pi 266
Description
Dimensions
height (actual size): 406mm
width (actual size): 619mm
width (actual size): 619mm
Inscription
Inscribed centre, `Englishmen in November.' and lower centre, `Frenchmen in November.'
Materials & techniques note
Pen and ink, watercolour
Production
Person
Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756 - 1827 (Artist)
Date
c.1788
History and association
Object history note
Exhibited: 'A Genius for Watercolour', Christie’s, London, 6 to 24 January 2003, catalogue number 35
Previous ownership
Pilkington, Alan, 1879 - 1973: Bequeathed to Eton by Alan Pilkington, 1973; at Eton from 1961
References
• Wilcox, T., A Genius for Watercolour; Watercolours from the Eton College Collection, Christie's exhibition catalogue, London, 2003 (p. 44 & 45 illustrated), Catalogue number: 35
• George, M.D., Catalogue of the Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum, London, Catalogue number: 7764 & 7765
• George, M.D., Catalogue of the Political and Personal Satires in the British Museum, London, Catalogue number: 7764 & 7765
