Artwork
The Dinner
The Dinner is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Rowlandson. It dates from 1787 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in plate within image: Rowlandson. 1787; lower center in plate: THE DINNER.; lower right in plate: Pub.d as the Act directs Marh. 10.1787 by J.Harris No.37 Dean Street, Soho.; lower left verso in graphite, circled: 3306; lCv//in graphite: 31681 (4)
About this work
Overview
The Dinner is a hand-colored etching and aquatint on paper created by Thomas Rowlandson in 1787. It is a satirical representation of a crowded tavern scene, characteristic of the artist's style.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a chaotic dinner scene with plates, wine, and hats scattered across tables. A waiter spills soup while a man in a red coat laughs, highlighting the excesses of 1780s London nightlife.
Technique & Style
Rowlandson's use of etching and aquatint, combined with hand-coloring, creates a vivid and detailed image. His robust style is reminiscent of contemporaries like James Gillray, who also used caricature to comment on the cultural and political landscape.
Context
The work is part of a larger body of satirical prints and illustrations that Rowlandson produced, often targeting figures in power or public life. His familiarity with London's taverns and coffeehouses informed his depictions of these settings.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Rowlandson (; 13 July 1757 – 21 April 1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation.
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