Artwork
A Money Scrivener
A Money Scrivener is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Rowlandson. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Money Scrivener is a hand-colored etching created by Thomas Rowlandson in 1801. The print is a representative work of the English caricaturist and printmaker, known for his satirical commentary on Georgian society.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a man intently counting coins, surrounded by a cluttered room and a woman with a baby. The scene appears to be a snapshot of everyday life, with the title suggesting the man is a money handler or scrivener, highlighting the mundane aspects of financial transactions.
Technique & Style
The print is characterized by a rough, sketchy style, achieved through the etching technique, which gives the image a sense of immediacy and realism. The use of hand-coloring adds to the visual detail, drawing attention to the figures and their surroundings.
Context
Rowlandson's work often blended observational humor with commentary on contemporary life, and A Money Scrivener is part of this broader oeuvre, reflecting the artist's interest in depicting everyday social types and situations.
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.
Politician
Bookseller and Author
Le Perruquier fatigué (The Tired Wigmaker)
John Wilkes Esq.
Gaspar Gribolari brocanteur à Padoue (Gaspar Gribolari, Secondhand Dealer in Padua)
House of Cards
Simon Lord Lovat
Le Chateau de carte (The House of Cards)
Ireland in Scotland, or a Trip from Oxford to the Land of Cakes
H Beard Print Collection
The Writing-Master of the Old Schoolmaster
Le glouton