The Golden Apple, or the Modern Paris
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 10 3/16 in. × 14 in. (25.8 × 35.5 cm) Plate: 9 13/16 × 13 11/16 in. (25 × 34.7 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
59.533.1792
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the lively world of 18th-century British satire, *The Golden Apple, or the Modern Paris* (1785) stands out as a collaborative etching by caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson, alongside J. Phillips and notable aristocrats George, Prince of Wales (the future George IV), Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and Mary Isabella Manners, Duchess of Rutland. Produced on March 2, 1785, this print measures about 10 by 14 inches and exemplifies the era's etching technique—a process ideal for sharp, detailed lines that allowed affordable dissemination of biting social commentary through inexpensive reproductions. The title cleverly alludes to the ancient Greek myth of the Judgment of Paris, where the Trojan prince awards a golden apple to the fairest goddess, sparking the Trojan War. Here, it's reimagined as a "modern" scandal, poking fun at the Prince of Wales and the glamorous duchesses amid Britain's Regency-era intrigue. Rowlandson's signature humorous style, often laced with exaggeration and wit, captures the opulent yet absurd world of high society, where beauty contests and political flirtations intertwined. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work highlights the cultural power of satirical prints in critiquing the elite. With tags emphasizing men and women, it reflects the gender dynamics and gossip that fueled public fascination, offering visitors a window into the playful yet pointed artistry of Georgian England.
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson|J. Phillips|George, Prince of Wales|Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire|Mary Isabella Manners, Duchess of Rutland · 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...