Beauty and the Beast

Attributed to Thomas Rowlandson British
18th–19th century
Not on view
A setting reminiscent of classical fable is used here to dramatize a moral dilemma relevant to the artist's day and to ours. A male satyr-peddler offers his treasures to a lovely woman. Her indecision about how to respond to his advances distresses an admirer who watches from a distance. The message is clear. Wealth is a powerful temptation to youthful beauty. The rapid execution and rough washes indicate the drawing was conceived as a preliminary study.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Beauty and the Beast
  • Artist: Attributed to Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London)
  • Date: 18th–19th century
  • Medium: Watercolor
  • Dimensions: sheet: 5 1/8 x 9 in. (13 x 22.9 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
  • Object Number: 59.533.1653
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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