Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827)

• Was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era.
• Rowlandson was born in Old Jewry, in the City of London.
• His father, William, had been a weaver, but had moved into trading supplies for the textile industry.
• In 1765 or 1766 Rowlandson started at the Soho Academy of Dr Cuthbert Barwis at 8 Soho Square, then "an academy of some celebrity".
• As a schoolboy, Rowlandson "drew humourous characters of his master and many of his scholars before he was ten years old," covering the margins of his schoolbooks with his artwork.
• Rowlandson was sent to Paris at the age of 16 (1772), and spent two years studying in a "drawing academy".
• It was on his return to London that he took classes at the Royal Academy, then based at Somerset House.
• Rowlandson was largely employed by Rudolph Ackermann, the art publisher.

• He also produced many works depicting the characters involved in election campaigns and race meetings. 

• His satirical works of London's street life such as the "pleasure gardens at Vauxhall, jostling with soldiers, students, tarts and society beauties", which exhibit acute social observation and commentary are amongst his finest.

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