This is a painting of a fair scene with various activities and performances taking place in an open square. The scene is lively with many figures engaged in different forms of entertainment and social interaction. To the left, there is a grand building with ornate architectural details. The scene captures swings, shows and performances on stages, a diverse crowd, and vendors selling goods. The background shows a large church with tall spires, while the foreground includes details such as dogs and performers. The attire is colorful and detailed, creating a vivid and animated portrayal of a fairground scene. This painting is in the style of Thomas Rowlandson.
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This is a painting of a fair scene with various activities and performances taking place in an open square. The scene is lively with many figures engaged in different forms of entertainment and social interaction. To the left, there is a grand building with ornate architectural details. The scene captures swings, shows and performances on stages, a diverse crowd, and vendors selling goods. The background shows a large church with tall spires, while the foreground includes details such as dogs and performers. The attire is colorful and detailed, creating a vivid and animated portrayal of a fairground scene. This painting is in the style of Thomas Rowlandson.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Bartholomew Fair

Thomas Rowlandson, after John Nixon

Date
1807
Medium
etching and stipple with hand coloring on wove paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to platemark): 24.5 × 35.7 cm (9 5/8 × 14 1/16 in.) mount: 32.1 × 50.8 cm (12 5/8 × 20 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1945.5.1227
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1801 to 1825
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • Street
  • British
  • Costume
  • Party
  • Building
  • Figures
Provenance

William Augustus Fraser (1826-1898), London (Lugt 2831)

Inscription

recto: in plate, above image, at right: 7; in plate, below image, at right: Rowlandson Scul.; in plate, below image, at right: John. Nixon esq.r De.; on mount, in graphite at lower left in later hand: Unique proof / 1667 1808; on mount, in graphite at lower right: Bartholomew Fair Proof GII-92 / (B-12, 402); verso: at center in graphite in later hand: 390

Marks

recto: on mount: William Augustus Fraser (Lugt 2831)

Watermarks

none

NGA object ID 32010. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.