Thomas Rowlandson

The Death Blow (The English Dance of Death)

Thomas Rowlandson's original aquatint and etching "The Death Blow" was published in 1815 by Rudolph Ackermann for the series entitled "The English Dance of Death", published in two volumes in 1815 and 1816. This particular etching deals with the hazards and consequences of boxing (pugilism). The words beneath the engraving read; "How vain are all your Triumphs past: For this Set-To will be your last". This is a fine, original example of the etched satirical art created by the British artist, Thomas Rowlandson, one of England's greates satirical masters.

The Death Blow from The English Dance of Death

"To what does Britain owe her Faime,
Her honour, ad superior name,
With all the splendour of her Glory,
In ancient, and in modern story?
Where'er her Colours are unfurl'd,
Or on the Land, or on the Sea,
She is the Child of Victory.
--Is it to Commerce that she owes
The name which all the world bestows?
Wealth may afford its powerful aid,
But Glory is not gain'd by Trade.
Cowards, 'tis true, are sometimes bold,
To shield from Force the treasur'd gold;
Nay, half-starv'd Av'rice will be brave
From pillaring hands his bags to save:
But this strange passion of the hour,
Derives from Fear its Transient power.
Say, is it Freedom that inspires
The bosom with its early fires?

That is a motive to incite
The embattled Phalanx to the fight:
But Boys are brave, while in their teens,
Before they know what Freedom means:--
No, though the cause I cannot scan,
'Tis Nature forms an Englishman,
'Tis Nature's powers that impart
Its courage to the British Heart:
'Tis the Home Combats that prepare
The Hero for the feats of War.
It is the triumphs of the Fist,
The contests of the Pugilist,
'Tis these that disipline the Will
To future darings, and instill
The Spirit that ne'er knows to yield
In contests of the tented Field;
And teach the Seaman to sustain
The bloody conflict of the Main...

*SYNTAX (Dr.) phrenonym [William Combe, 1741-1823].

Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour by the British satirical artist, Thomas Rowlandson.

The Death Blow from The English Dance of Death Original Aquatint and Etching by Thomas Rowlandson

The Death Blow (The English Dance of Death)

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:	The Death Blow (The English Dance of Death)
Artist:	Rowlandson, Thomas (London, 1756 - 1827)
Date:	1815
Medium:	Original Aquatint & Etching Printed in Colour
Publisher:	Rudolph Ackermann, London
Printer:	Rudolph Ackermann, 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 gifted artist and his compositions always seemed the closest to the truth for he often lived the dissipated style of life he so memorably satirized. 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 gifted artist and his compositions always seemed 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, Thomas Rowlandson quickly gambled it away. After 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 British publishers as Flores and Thomas Tegg, Thomas Rowlandson designed many memorable satires. His greatest work, however, lay ahead in the early nineteenth century when he collaborated with the famous London publisher, Rudolph Ackermann, to produce some of the finest satirical series 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. Loosely based upon Holdbein's Renaissance "Dance of Death", this latter series superbly uncovers the foibles of early nineteenth century life. For each of these original prints, Rowlandson created the drawings and etched the plates. Ackermann and his studio then provided the aquatinting and hand-colouring. The etchings from The English Dance of Death have long taken their place as among Rowlandson's greatest works of original art. This particular engraving deals with the hazards and consequences of boxing (pugilism). The words beneath the engraving read; "How vain are all your Triumphs past: For this Set-To will be your last".
Source:	The English Dance of Death
Size:	4 1/4 X 8 7/8 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Framed and Matted with 100% Archival Materials
	View larger Framed Image

Condition:	Printed on early nineteenth century wove paper and with full margins as published in London by Rudolph Ackermann in 1815. The Death blow is in excellent condition throughout.. It is a fine, original example of the etched satirical art created by the British artist, Thomas Rowlandson, one of England's greates satirical masters.
Price:	Sold - The price is no longer available.
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