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The Spendthrift and the Miser

Maker

(artist)
1757-1827

Title

Date of Production

1757 - 1827

Medium

graphite, pen and grey and brown ink, watercolour on wove paper

Dimensions

Height: 20.2 cm
Width: 27.1 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.3159

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Misers

Label Text

This work is typical of the many well-observed satirical drawings which Rowlandson produced throughout his life. Presented like a scene from a play, every part of the drawing contributes to the drama. The young rake staggers in with a decanter, pockets empty, disturbing the miser quietly reading in a room filled with reminders of his sober husbandry. The maid and even the dog echo the miser's alarm.

Provenance

anonymous sale ('Property of a Gentleman'), Sotheby's (London), 21 October 1942, lot 21; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

A Passion for Drawings, Collectors at the Courtauld, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 28/02/2002-09/06/2002

Cartoonists of the British School, East Kent and Folkestone Arts Centre, Folkestone, UK, 16/03/1968-20/04/1968

Literature

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 43

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Recto: upper centre (within drawing), grey ink: "RENT ROLL / Back Rent _____ 20 / [...] ____ 10 [...]"; upper right above door (within drawing), grey ink: "PLAN of the ESTATE"; upper right on safe on wall, grey ink: "STRONG BO[...]"; lower left edge, grey ink, titled: "The Spendthrift + the Miser".

Collector's mark: Verso: lower left corner, stamped in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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