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A Grinning Match

Etcher Thomas Rowlandson British
After Henry William Bunbury British
Publisher Rudolph Ackermann, London British
February 1, 1803
Not on view
Grego describes a 1799 version of this image as designed by Bunbury, and characterizes the scene as "a party of rustics, whose rude features are more rudely burlesqued, are grouped around a barrel to assist in an exhibition of "face-making." The challenge runs thus: "A gold Ring to be Grinned for the frightfu'lest Grinner to be the winner." Mounted on a tub is one of the champions, round his head is the traditional setting for a horse collar, and he is succeeding in making the most fearful grimaces, to the consequent delight of the spectators."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: A Grinning Match
  • Etcher: Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London)
  • Artist: After Henry William Bunbury (British, Mildenhall, Suffolk 1750–1811 Keswick, Cumberland)
  • Publisher: Rudolph Ackermann, London (British, active 1794–1832)
  • Date: February 1, 1803
  • Medium: Hand-colored etching
  • Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed): 7 7/8 × 9 3/16 in. (20 × 23.4 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
  • Object Number: 59.533.1865
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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