Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)

This riotous, and colourful image shows a large crowd enjoying ‘Richardson’s Theatre’, a travelling fairground show that was established in and around London in the last years of the 18^th century. The watercolour is connected to Rowlandson’s etching of 1816 that was published by Ackermann. The fair appears as part of the composition of a large watercolour by Rowlandson now preserved in the British Museum.¹

¹ British Museum, acc. no. 1868,0808.3193