Miseries of London: Entering upon any of the bridges of London or any of the passages leading to the Thames being assailed by a group of watermen holding up their hands and bawling out. Oars Sculls. Sculls. Oars. Oars.

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling chaos of early 19-century London with Thomas Rowland *Miseries of London Entering upon any of the bridges of London or of the passages leading to Thames being assailed by group of watermen holding their hands and bawling. Oars Sculls Sculls. Oars. Oars.*, a hand-colored etching first on July 14, 1807, and re in 1812. Rowlandson, a master of British during the Regency era, captured city's vibrant street life through sharp satire, often exaggerating human folly for comic effect. This print belongs to his *Miseries of London* series, poking fun at the everyday irritations of urban dwellers in a rapidly growing metropolis. The scene humorously depicts hapless pedestrians overwhelmed by rowdy watermen—Thames boatmen frantically hawking their services with cries of "Oars! Sculls!" near the river's bridges and access points. Before modern bridges proliferated, these water taxis were essential yet notoriously aggressive, turning simple crossings into comedic battles. Rowlandson's hand-coloring technique, applied by skilled artisans after etching, brings vivid life to the figures' exaggerated gestures and expressions, enhancing the print's appeal as affordable, shareable commentary for the middle class. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1959), this 12 5/16 × 9 in. sheet exemplifies how satire served as social critique, blending entertainment with observation of London's teeming humanity. A delightful glimpse into a world of horse-drawn hacks and river rivalries!

About the Artist

Thomas Rowlandson · 1756–1827

Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was an English artist and caricaturist whose satirical watercolors and prints captured the social life of Georgian Britain with unparalleled wit and technical mastery. Alongside James Gillray, he is recognized as one of the greatest British graphic artists, and his distinctive flowing line and keen observations have made his work integral to understanding late 18th an...