The Prophet discovering himself and exposing the deception, from "Journal of Sentimental Travels in the Southern Provinces of France, Shortly Before the Revolution"
Medium
Hand-colored etching and aquatint
Dimensions
Sheet: 5 11/16 × 8 7/8 in. (14.4 × 22.5 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
59.533.1643(6)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the whimsical world of early 19th-century British satire with *The Prophet discovering himself and exposing deception*, a hand-colored etching and aquat from Thomas Rowlandson's *Journal of Sentimental Travels the Southern Provinces of France Shortly Before the Revolution*1821). Rowlandson a master caricaturist renowned for his exaggerated, humorous depictions of human folly, collaborated here with writer William Combe printer J. Diggens, and publisher Rudolph Ackermann. This print belongs to a tradition of mocking sentimental travel literature, evoking the misadventures of figures like the bumbling Dr. Syntax from Rowlandson's earlier series. The scene unfolds in a cluttered bedroom, featuring men and improbably comical crocodiles—a nod to absurd prophetic visions or deceptive antics. The title suggests a moment of self-revelation and unmasking fraud, capturing the era's fascination with mysticism and charlatans amid post-Revolutionary Europe. Hand-coloring on etching and aquatint allowed for vibrant, lively hues that amplified Rowlandson's dynamic lines, making these affordable prints hugely popular in London society. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this 5 11/16 × 8 7/8 in. gem highlights British printmaking's golden age, blending sharp social commentary with visual delight for everyday audiences.
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson|William Combe|J. Diggens|Rudolph Ackermann, London · 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...