Public-domain ebook
Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 1
by Joseph Grego
Language: en1,959 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Humour·Biographies·Art
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #45980.
About this book
Rowlandson the Caricaturist, Volume 1 is a scholarly compilation edited by Joseph Grego that presents a curated selection of Thomas Rowlandson’s graphic satire, accompanied by extensive anecdotal notes. The work opens with a transcriber's note explaining the presence of an index that cross‑references the companion volume, followed by a formal title page that lists the publisher, the number of illustrations (about four hundred), and a dedication to “all lovers of humour.” Grego’s preface then outlines his aim: to guide both seasoned collectors and newcomers through the “devious and eccentric intricacies” of pictorial satire, assuring readers that the material, though sometimes “grotesque,” is presented with moderation and historical context. The opening pages also provide a detailed contents list, mapping the range of subjects, from political elections and social scenes to travel sketches, offering a clear roadmap to the breadth of Rowlandson’s output between 1774 and 1799.
The book’s voice is that of a late‑Victorian antiquarian, combining earnest scholarly commentary with a genteel, almost conversational tone. Its style reflects the period’s reverence for cataloguing and its penchant for exhaustive detail, while the illustrations retain the lively, exaggerated line work that made Rowlandson famous. Readers who enjoy the intersection of art history, cultural studies, and 18th‑century British satire will find this volume rewarding, especially those with an appetite for visual humor, historical caricature, and the social commentary embedded in the era’s popular prints.
The opening · free to read
Footnotes have been moved to the end of each chapter (in the text version) and to the end of the text (html version).
Illustrations have been moved to paragragh breaks in a direction which brings them closer to their descriptions. In the html version this has left blank pages where page numbers are omitted.
Italic text is denoted by underscores.
Obvious typos and punctuation errors have been corrected.
There are many instances of double choices for hyphenations. Some same words are hyphenated and some aren't. These have been left as printed.
In French both ou and où used.
The use of italics around foreign words in english text, is inconsistent. These have been left as printed.
'Beef-Steak Club' and 'Beef-steak Club'. These have been left as printed.
p9. 'up in curious and-out of-the-way points of the political' changed to 'up in curious and out-of-the-way points of the political'.
p25. 'Damp; Sheets and Slugs in a Saw Pit' should read 'Damp Sheets and Slugs in a Saw Pit'
p43. 'Die Reise des Doktor Syntax um das Malerische au Frusuchen' should read 'Die Reise des Doktor Syntax um das Malerische aufzusuchen'.
p170. November 31, 1785. Jockeyship. Note there is no November 31st in the calendar year.
p173. 'and successfully in his instance' should be, 'in this instance'.
p190. 'inconvenienced by party prejudices--to to try' removed extra 'to'.
p253. 'suppositious contrast between high and and low life in port'. Remove extra and.
p265. 'which would seen to have occupied a frontage facing the semicircle'. Seen replaced by seem.
p357. 'the parliamentary session had opened at the end of November 1788'. This most likely needs to be the year 1798. Left as printed.
A copy of the Indices printed in Volume 2, have been added at the end of the text.
The book keeps going
Keep reading, and see it illustrated
Reading is free forever. Sign up and watch scenes appear while you read.
Scenes Storieta drew for other classics.
