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ROWLANDSON, Thomas.
The Comforts of Bath.
The first edition of 1798 was designed to illustrate Anstey's New Bath Guide, and according to Tooley, is "one of the rarest of Rowlandson items." This series of watercolor drawings gives us Rowlandson's visual satire on the activities at Bath, whether bathing, gaming, dining, sitting for a portrait, enjoying a concert, dancing, or romancing. In each drawing, the figure of the rotund visitor to the Bath, reminiscent of Humphry Clinker's fussy Mr. Bramble, provides one point of view from which to view the scene, while Rowlandson gives us an outsider's view as well.
- Published
- London: S.W. Fores, 1798.
- References
- Grego I, 333-349; BM Cat. 9321; Abbey Scenery 40; Tooley 408; Bobins 716.
- Plates
- 12
- Binding/Size
- M=4to
- Value
- 0-5000
- Published
- London: S.W. Fores, 1798.
- Ref
- 5138
Oblong 4to. without text, as issued, 12 hand-coloured aquatint plates, each mounted and titled "Comforts of Bath," numbered 1-12. In full navy blue morocco by Zaehnsdord, lettered in gilt direct, decorative gilt inner dentelles, raised bands in gilt to spine, preserved in a purpose-made half morocco oblong box. These plates were used to illustrate Ansley's New Bath Guide, and no text was ever issued. A reprint was produced in 1860. Coloured plates in order: 1. [Comforts of Bath] Gentleman being seen to by a number of Doctors. 2. [Comforts of Bath] Lady is singing before an audience. 3. [Comforts of Bath] People lining up to drink the health-giving spa waters. 4. [Comforts of Bath] At the fish merchants. 5. [Comforts of Bath] Gentleman and a Lady riding together - followed by an elderly man. 6. [Comforts of Bath] An elderly husband having his portrait painted while his wife and (younger) lover embrace, out of sight. 7. [Comforts of Bath] Citizens taking a bath in the spa waters. 8. [Comforts of Bath] A gentleman being announced as he enters a select gathering in a wealthy home. 9. [Comforts of Bath] A pair of well-fed gentlemen 'dining at table'. 10. [Comforts of Bath] A dance. 11. [Comforts of Bath] A raucous table sitting arrangement. 12. [Comforts of Bath] The good people of Bath, stumbling and falling down a hill in (very) windy conditions.
