March of Intellect
William Heath ('Paul Pry') British
Publisher Thomas McLean British
Not on view
This is one of three prints that Heath designed to caricature elements of the Industrial Revolution, aimed at the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. This example is filled with satires of technological innovations and modern architecture with steam power is blamed for the breakdown of distinctions between the social classes. At center, a dustman dines on a pineapple, formerly an exotic luxury fruit. Steamboats seen in the background had begun to ply the Thames in 1815. From 1827–29 Heath used the image of a little dandy holding an umbrella to sign prints, seen here at lower left, a reference to Paul Pry, a nosy character in an 1825 play by John Poole.
