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The anatomy of melancholy.
1808
Collection
Part of
Selections from the Graphic Arts Collection
The Graphic Arts Collection holds prints, drawings, photographs, paintings, sculpture, and printed ephemera along with an international book collection specializing in fine press,
Metadata
- Publisher
- London : [s.n.], 1808/03/01.
- People
-
- Language
- No linguistic content
- Subject
- Caricature
- Suffering—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Death (Personification)—Caricatures and cartoons
- Human skeleton—Caricatures and cartoons
- Democritus, approximately 460 B.C.-approximately 370 B.C.—Caricatures and cartoons
- Apathy—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Adultery—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Older men—Great Britain—19th century—Caricatures and cartoons
- Young women—Great Britain—19th century—Caricatures and cartoons
- Jealousy—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Drinking—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
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Item Summary
Descriptive Information
- Title
- The anatomy of melancholy.
- Call Number
- D North 51/GC112/Box 01/Normal/Prints/Titles A GA 2014.00076
- Identifier
- ark:/88435/qj72pg25j
- Publisher
- London : [s.n.], 1808/03/01.
- Language
- No linguistic content
- Date Created
- 1808
- Extent
- 1 item ; sheet 33 x 24.4 cm.
- Source Acquisition
- Gift of Dickson Q. Brown, Princeton University Class of 1895.
- References
- Grego II, p. 86
- Rights Statement
- No Known Copyright
- Notes
- Medium: Etchings
- Depiction: The nonchalant pair are pledging one another amorously in bumpers, while the spirit of the founder of the feast is departing. A painting of Democritus, his face waring an expression of grief on one side, and laughter on the other, explains the transitory nature of sorrow, and the key of the situation is further offered by certain lines inscribed on a paper under the lady's hand: "Come what may, the cat will mew, the dog will have his day."
- Depiction: A mixed scene of suffering and indifference. Propped up in a pillowed arm-chair, before the fire, is a melancholy invalid, old, decrepit, and ill-favored. By his side is a list of "Remedies against discontents." "Cure of jealousy" &c. On the mantel is an array of doctor's bottles, and a hatchment, - groans, griefs, sadness, - forms a cheerful adornment for the chimneypiece. Behind the sufferer, whose last hour, it seems is approaching - since Death has thrust his head, arm and hour-glass through a window above his head - is seated a blooming young damsel decked out in all the attractiveness of an evening toilette. Planted at a table by her side is a dandified admirer. Before them a dessert is arranged, and decanters of wine are ready to hand.
- Inscribed in plate, lower margin: "'Tis a misery to be born, a pain to live, a trouble to die".
- Signed in plate, lower left: "Rowlandson del. 1808".
Discovery Information
- Subject
- Caricature
- Suffering—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Death (Personification)—Caricatures and cartoons
- Human skeleton—Caricatures and cartoons
- Democritus, approximately 460 B.C.-approximately 370 B.C.—Caricatures and cartoons
- Apathy—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Adultery—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Older men—Great Britain—19th century—Caricatures and cartoons
- Young women—Great Britain—19th century—Caricatures and cartoons
- Jealousy—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
- Drinking—Great Britain—Caricatures and cartoons
Physical Characteristics
- File Count
- 1
Institutional Information
- Collection
- Selections from the Graphic Arts Collection
- IIIF Manifest URL
-
https://figgy.princeton.edu/concern/scanned_resources/a42be0be-5cf0-4b32-ae9d-dfc0e90108ee/manifest