Thomas Rowlandson & George Moutard Woodward

Preaching to Some Purpose

Thomas Rowlandson's & George Moutard Woodward's 'Preaching to Some Purpose'

"Preaching to Some Purpose" is a collaborative effort by two British satirical artists. It was etched by Thomas Rowlandson and designed by George Moutard Woodward (known as 'Mustard George'). During the early nineteenth century these two satirical artists combined their talents to produce a number of original etchings. The San Francisco Museum of Fine Arts includes a hand-colored impression of "Preaching to Some Purpose" in its permanent collection. This original etching is a fine example of the famous etched art created by the British artists, Thomas Rowlandson and George Moutard Woodward.

The preacher states, "Dearly Beloved - before I begin my discourse - I have three things to inform you of - The first thing I know, - and you do not know - the next thing you know, and I do not know - and the third thing none of us know - Viz in my way here to preach - crossing Farmer Hobsons Stile, I tore my Breeches, -- the extent of the rent I know and you do not know - Secondly - what you are willing to subscribe to get them repaired you know and I do not know, - and lastly what Tim Snip the Tailor will charge for the job - that none of us know!"

The doleful expressions on the faces of the congregation indicate that the 'discourse' is far from inspirational.

Original Etching by the British satirical artists, Thomas Rowlandson and George Moutard Woodward.

Preaching to Some Purpose

View other original etchings by Thomas Rowlandson.

Thomas Rowlandson (London, 1756 - 1827)
#	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes	-
01.-	Admiration etched by Thomas Rowlandson designed by George Moutard Woodward	Original Soft Ground Etching	1800	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Available
02.-	Deadly Lively by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Hand-Coloured Etching	1815	Published by Thomas Tegg, London	Sold
03.-	Doctor Syntax, Copying the Wit of the Window by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Hand-Colored Etching & Aquatint	1809 (1st Ed.)	Published by The Poetical Magazine at Rudolph Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 101 Strand, London	Available
04.-	Hot Goose, Cabbage & Cucumbers by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Hand-Coloured Etching	1823	Published by John Fairburn, Ludgate Hill	Sold
05.-	Preaching to Some Purpose etched by Thomas Rowlandson designed by George Moutard Woodward	Original Etching	1801	Publishd by Rudolph Ackermann, The Strand, London	Sold
06.-	The Battle from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Available
07.-	The Bishop from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
08.-	The Consultation or Last Hope by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Etching	1808	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
09.-	The Corporal in Good Quarters by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Hand-Coloured Etching	1808 (2nd Ed.)	Published by S. Howitt, London	Available
10.-	The Death Blow from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
11.-	The Dram Shop from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
12.-	The Duel from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
13.-	The Gaming Table from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
14.-	The Manager's Last Kick, Or a New Way to Pay Old Debts by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Hand-Coloured Etching	c. 1815	Published in London	Sold
15.-	The Pantomime from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
16.-	The Quaker, and the Comissioners of Excise etched by Thomas Rowlandson designed by George Moutard Woodward	Original Hand-Coloured Etching	1807	Pulished by Thomas Tegg, London	Sold
17.-	The Wedding from The English Dance of Death by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour	1815	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, London	Sold
18.-	The Tooth-Ache, or, Torment & Torture by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Hand-Coloured Etching	1823	Published by John Fairburn, Ludgate Hill	Sold
19.-	Wapping by Thomas Rowlandson	Original Etching	1807	Published by Rudolph Ackermann, Repository of Arts, London	Sold

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Title:	Preaching to Some Purpose
Artist:	Rowlandson, Thomas (London, 1756 - 1827)
Designer:	Woodward, George Moutard (Derbyshire, 1760 - London, 1809)
Date:	1801
Medium:	Original Etching
Publisher:	Rudolph Ackermann, The Strand, London
Note:	Thomas Rowlandson: Along with Hogarth, Gillray and Cruikshank, Thomas Rowlandson is at the uppermost peak of English satirical art. Amongst these masters, however, Rowlandson was the most draughtsman and his compositions seem the closest to the truth, for he often lived the dissipated style of life he so memorably satirized. After studying in both Paris and London, Thomas Rowlandson began his career as a portrait painter. By 1782, however, he devoted himself almost exclusively to his first love; caricature and satirical art. After receiving a large inheritance, Rowlandson quickly gambled it away. Losing his fortune at a thirty-six hour card game he is known to have exclaimed, "I've played the fool, but (holding up his pencils) here is my resource."
	Working with such publishers as Rudolph Ackermann, Flores, John Fairburn and Thomas Tegg, Thomas Rowlandson designed many memorable satires single plate satires, such as this original example. In the book arts he collaborated with the famous London publisher, Rudolph Ackermann (1734-1834), to produce some of the finest satirical volumes in the history of art. These included "The Microcosm of London" (1808), "The Tour of Dr. Syntax in Search of the Picturesque" (1812) and "The English Dance of Death", published in two volumes in 1815 and 1816.
	Despite his great illustrated works, Thomas Rowlandson's large, single sheet etchings remain his most famous legacy. Some were both designed and etched by him; others were only designed by him and he also etched some compositions designed by his fellow artists and friends, such as George Moutard Woodward (known as 'Mustard George') and Henry William Bunbury (known as Henry Bunbury). Such is the case with, "Preaching to Some Purpose", which was designed by George Moutard Woodward.
	George Moutard Woodward 'Mustard George': A fine amateur watercolourist and caricaturist born in Derbyshire in 1760 Woodward came to London around 1791 - 1792. He was also known as ‘Mustard George’ and 'George Murgatroyd Woodward'. From around 1794 to 1807 Woodward designed numerous caricatures which were engraved by such artists as Isaac Cruikshank (William Cruikshank's father), Charles Williams, Piercy Roberts, Richard Cooper, and other satirical artists of the period. Many of his designs were also etched by his close friend and constant drinkingcompanion, Thomas Rowlandson. George Murgatroyd Woodward produced designs for such British publishers as Rudolph Ackermann, Thomas Tegg's 'Caricature Magazine', S. W. Fores, Allen & West, William Holland, and others. He was the originator of such satirical creations as "Admiration", "An Alarming Situation", "Preaching to Some Purpose", "The Quaker, and the Comissioners of Excise", "Aristocracy and Democracy", "Pigmy Revels or all Alive at Lilliput", and other satires. George Moutard Woodward is often credited with the invention of the modern form of comic strip. Alas, his dissolute style of life seems to have triumphed in the end and ‘Mustard George’ died at the Brown Bearn Tavern, Bow Street, Covenent Garden in 1809. "The Quaker, and the Commissioners of Excise" is a fine orignal example of the etched art created by Thomas Rowlandson after a design by George Moutard Woodward. The San Francisco Museum of Fine Arts includes a hand-colored impression of "Preaching to Some Purpose" in its permanent collection.
	"Preaching to Some Purpose" is a collaborative effort by Thomas Rowlandson and designed by George Moutard Woodward (known as 'Mustard George'). During the early nineteenth century these two satirical artists combined their talents to produce a number of original etchings. Here, the preacher states, "Dearly Beloved - before I begin my discourse - I have three things to inform you of - The first thing I know, - and you do not know - the next thing you know, and I do not know - and the third thing none of us know - Viz in my way here to preach - crossing Farmer Hobsons Stile, I tore my Breeches, -- the extent of the rent I know and you do not know - Secondly - what you are willing to subscribe to get them repaired you know and I do not know, - and lastly what Tim Snip the Tailor will charge for the job - that none of us know!". The doleful expressions on the faces of the congregation indicate that the 'discourse' is far from inspirational.
Size:	11 X 13 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Condition:	Printed on early nineteenth century wove paper and with margins cropped close to the plate-mark, as published in London in 1801. Containing remnants of glue marks on the verso else a finely printed, early impression in good condition throughout. This original impression of "Preaching to Some Purpose" represents a prime, original example of the satirical art of Thomas Rowlandson and George Moutard Woodward.
Subject:	Thomas Rowlandson and George Moutard Woodward or, (Murgatroyd Woodward), "Preaching to Some Purpose", original etching, preacher, congregation, satirical art, Mustard George.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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