Thomas Rowlandson

About the Print

This exquisite hand-colored aquatint depicts the Surrey Institution, one of London's notable early 19th-century cultural establishments. Created in 1809, this print is plate 81 from the celebrated three-volume publication The Microcosm of London (1808-1810), one of the most important visual records of Georgian London at the height of the Regency period.

The Surrey Institution, founded in 1808 on Blackfriars Road in Southwark, was established as a literary and scientific institution offering lectures, exhibitions, and a library to the public. This print captures the grand interior during a public gathering, showcasing both the neoclassical architecture and the fashionable London society that frequented such establishments.

The Microcosm of London

Published by Rudolf Ackermann at his famous "Ackermann's Repository of Arts" at 100 Strand, The Microcosm of London stands as one of the finest illustrated books of the Regency era. Written by William Henry Pyne, the publication showcased 104 hand-colored aquatint plates depicting the institutions, scenery, people, and activities of cosmopolitan London at the turn of the 19th century.

This collaborative masterwork brought together two of Britain's most talented artists: Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827), the prolific caricaturist and printmaker known for his lively figures, and Augustus Charles Pugin (1769-1832), the accomplished French-born architectural draughtsman celebrated for his precise architectural renderings. Rowlandson populated Pugin's architectural settings with animated figures, creating scenes that were both architecturally accurate and socially vivid.

Production and Technique

The images were etched and aquatinted by talented engravers in Ackermann's employ. This particular plate was executed by Joseph Constantine Stadler (1780-1812), who engraved twenty-nine of the 104 plates in the series. The print is dated September 1, 1809, and was included in volume 3 of the publication.

The hand-coloring was applied using watercolor washes over the aquatint base, a labor-intensive process that required skilled colorists working under Ackermann's supervision to ensure consistency across the edition.

Technical Details

Artists: Thomas Rowlandson (figures) & Augustus Charles Pugin (architecture)
Aquatint engraver: Joseph Constantine Stadler
Publication: The Microcosm of London, plate 81, volume 3
Publisher: Rudolf Ackermann, London
Date: September 1, 1809
Medium: Hand-colored etching and aquatint
Condition: Very good condition
Dimensions: 23.5 x 27.3 cm / 9¼ x 10¾ in (image)
Frame: 36.2 x 40.5 cm / 14¼ x 16 in, wood (contemporary), acid-free matting, glass
Origin: United Kingdom

Sources: The Royal Collection Trust; National Portrait Gallery; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Dictionary of National Biography.

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