Dissolution of Partnership, or the Industrious Mrs. Clarke Winding Up Her Accounts
February 15, 1809
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 1/2 × 15 7/8 in. (26.7 × 40.4 cm) Plate: 9 5/8 × 13 3/4 in. (24.4 × 35 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.533.1302
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This hand-colored etching from February 1809 captures a of public scandal through sharp satire. Titled *Dissolution of Partnership, or the Industrious Mrs. Clarke Winding Up Her Accounts*, the print portrays Mary Anne Clarke, the former mistress of the Duke of York, as she settles financial matters amid accusations of corruption. The work highlights themes of money, power, and gender, with Clarke shown actively managing accounts while male figures look on, reflecting the era’s fascination with high-society intrigue. Created in the medium of hand-colored etching—a popular technique for distributing affordable, vividly tinted caricatures—the piece was likely produced by publisher Thomas Tegg in collaboration with renowned satirist Thomas Rowlandson. Its compact size made it ideal for wide circulation among London audiences eager for commentary on current events. The image draws on the real 1809 investigation into the sale of military commissions, using humor to critique both personal ambition and institutional flaws. As a print now held in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, it exemplifies early nineteenth-century British graphic satire. The work invites viewers to consider how art could shape public opinion during a time of political tension, blending entertainment with pointed social observation.
About the Artist
Mary Anne Clarke|Thomas Tegg|Thomas Rowlandson (British|British|British) · 1776 |1757 |1776 –1852 |1827 |1846
British, London 1776?–1852 Boulogne|British, London 1757–1827 London|British, London 1776–1846 London