This is a descriptive list of erotic etchings and drawings by Thomas Rowlandson, based upon the research of Henry Spencer Ashbee published in his three-volume bibliography of curious and uncommon books: Index Librorum Prohibitorum (1877), Centuria Librorum Absconditorum (1879) and Catena Librorum Tacendorum (1885). Many of the works cited by Ashbee have been reprinted in Gert Schiff's The Amorous Illustrations of Thomas Rowlandson (1969) and Kurt von Meier's The Forbidden Erotica of Thomas Rowlandson (1970). The list also includes a few satirical and political caricatures and some which are merely free or indecent but not erotic or obscene.Ashbee 1879, p. 355.
Etchings and engravings Image Title Interpretation Description Comments NotesA Music master toning his instrumentAn interior. A young man is reclining on his back upon an old fashioned harpsichord, with two thick books supporting his head. One girl, naked with the exception of her shift which is rolled up round her waist, straddles across him; they are in the act; whilst another girl, standing at the end of the harpsichord, is tickling the man's testicles with her right hand, and pleasuring herself with her left."The drawing is good, and the attitudes quite possible".Tally I O the GrinderExterior of an inn with sign of "Cock and Bottle". An old man is holding a knife on a grindstone, his member in a state of erection. One girl is turning the handle of the grindstone, and another, standing above it, is urinating upon it; both girls are almost entirely naked, and their figures are plump. To the right, a man is seated on a bench in the act with a wench astraddle across his legs. From two windows of the inn peep out an old woman, and an old man evidently having connection with a chubby wench behind whom he stands."The whole composition is full of movement; the drawing is correct, and altogether it is a very good specimen of Rowlandson's art."Ashbee 1879, p. 356.There is a reproduction of this plate; the size is the same, and the figures are not turned; "it is, however, not so bold and free in execution as the original, is much softened down, and carried out in great part in stipple, which is not the case in the plate etched by Rowlandson; moreover, the hair and faces of the girls differ."Ashbee 1879.The Star Gazer"I have known many a Man to have been made a Cuckold of in the twinkling of a Star". An interior; the walls arched, and the floor strewed with books and two globes; with a dog in the foreground. An old man, in dressing gown and slippers, with open mouth, is gazing through a telescope; while, in an adjoining room, of which the doors are half open, a couple are in the act upon a bed."The moon-light pouring in through the window at which the old man sits is well managed."Ashbee 1879, p. 357.Schiff 1969, plate 8. Carnival at VeniceA street. There are numerous figures, the central one of which is a naked girl standing on hands and feet backwards in a hoop. Another naked girl is collecting money from the spectators; and a man is playing a barrel-organ. The spectators are strongly caricatured, and have their members exposed. At three windows overlooking the street, libidinous scenes are being enacted; and at the corner of the street, a quack is administering a clyster to a woman kneeling on a platform."The composition is very clever and satirical, and is a good specimen of Rowlandson's talent."A Dutch Interior of a hovel. Two couples in the act: the one seated on a low chair, the other upon a bed in an alcove, the woman on her knees above the man who is on his back. Both couples are almost naked, that in the foreground on the chair are drinking at the same time. A dog and cat are playing on the floor."The drawing is not very good, nor is the subject a pleasing one."Lady H******* AttitudesTitle in the design. Interior of a studio. An old man holds back a curtain, and points to a naked girl, who stands upright, and is posing to a youth seated on a low chair, with an easel before him; he draws with one hand and holds an eye glass up to his eye with the other. To the right, in the background, are two figures upstanding and embracing each other, and in the left hand fore corner, on the ground, are two heads placed as if they were kissing."The composition is spirited, and the drawing, especially of the naked woman, good."Ashbee 1879, p. 359. Titled by Paulson: "The Dancer".Paulson 1972, ill. 45.French Dancers at a Morning RehearsalInterior of a kind of barn. Seven figures; a girl, holding out her shift, her only garment, her breasts as well as all the lower part of the body bare, with two feathers in her hair, is dancing with an old man who is playing on a fiddle, his member exposed and erect; to the left another man, playing the fiddle, is having intercourse with a girl kneeling before him; to the right, a naked girl stands at a tub washing; in the centre background, a man is sitting on a chamber pot, and a girl is beating a tambourine. "The dancing girl is fairly drawn and finished, but the man dancing with her is faulty in outline and somewhat caricatured; the other figures are quite mediocre."Schiff 1969, plate 30.The Rival Knights or the Englishman in ParisInterior. A girl, with a large feather in her head, her shift tucked up round her waist, kneels on a bed between two old men with their breeches down—one very fat, the other slight and small,—she holds the member of each in her hands, and appears to be drawing them to her; the men, with clenched fists, are making pugnacious demonstrations behind her back. On the mantle-piece, right, are a bottle, and a monkey, with member erect, playing the fiddle."The drawing and finish are good, especially of the girl's posteriors—a favourite part with Rowlandson,—and the composition has much life in it."Ashbee 1879, p. 360.————Interior. A very fat, gouty old man sits before the fire, writhing with pain, while a young couple are in the act in the adjoining room, of which the door is open; an old woman enters by a door at the further end of the back room, and seems much surprised. There is a cat in the immediate foreground. "The drawing and finish are pretty good." Titled by Von Meier: "The Old Man", and by Schiff: "The Old Husband".Schiff 1969, plate 1.A Scene in the Farce called the CitizenInterior. A young man with his breeches down sits upon a table, and holds a girl across, and facing him; her feet are upon the same table; with his right hand he clasps her rump, and with his left holds up her clothes above her waist; both have hats on. An old man peeps out from beneath the table, his fists are clenched, and his face expresses great anger."Both drawing and engraving are good. The girl's position is difficult".Ashbee 1879, p. 361. See also Arthur Murphy.Schiff 1969, plate 5.Out Posts of a CampExterior. A soldier standing upright, his pigtail sticking out, and his breeches about his knees, is enjoying a plump girl seated on a drum underneath a tree. Another soldier at some little distance, seated on the ground, is examining the genitals of a lass extended before him. In the distance are tents."[T]he perspective is faulty."Schiff 1969, plate 44.A Finishing StrokeIn a well decorated room, a young couple are in the act on a couch; two old men enter by a half opened door, one peeping through the key hole, the other pointing a blunderbuss at the unsuspecting young people."Although the drawing of the young man is very incorrect, great force and energy are brought out". Titled by Schiff: "The Observers".Schiff 1969, plate 18.Schiff 1969, plate 38.A Family on a Journey Laying the DustExterior. Four figures, with a dog, and a horse in an old fashioned chaise, are all urinating; the man is erect in the chaise, the three women, in different attitudes, are all naked up to the waist. "The composition is most original and quaint."Schiff 1969, plate 28.Jolly GipsiesExterior. A young man and woman, quite naked, are in the act upon the ground under a tree; other gipsies a little distance off are disporting themselves; there is a pot suspended on three sticks over a fire. To the right are two dogs copulating; and to the left are two asses."[T]he animals, as is usual with Rowlandson, are vilely drawn; the central couple display much vigour."Ashbee 1879, p. 362.Inquest of Matrons or Trial for a RapeInterior. The design is divided: to the right a woman, almost naked, is stretched on her back upon a bed, while four old crones are examining her; the left shows us the court with the judge on the bench, the prisoner before him, lawyers, and others in their places; an old man of repulsive ugliness is peeping through the door at the examination of the woman. "The drawing is not good, and the etching is very rough, but the composition is original and striking." The right hand half of this etching has been reproduced.Ashbee 1885, p. 455. See also Virginity test.The Rookery Exterior. On a seat In the porch of rural dwelling, couple are act, seated facing each other; their countenances expressive great delight. girl is watching them and frigging herself with her right hand, while left she holds trunk tree underneath which stands; breasts lower part persons both women bare. fat old man sits at window house smoking pipe, looking bird wicker cage suspended outside. foreground left, cock treading hen; foliage nearly covers house."This is a pretty composition, ably drawn and finished; the tale is well told, and the figures display much life and movement".Ashbee 1879, pp. 362–3.Meditations among the TombsA church-yard. A fat parson is reading the burial service over a grave surrounded by several mourners; while to the left, against a window of the church, a countryman and a lass are copulating in an upright posture; the girl's clothes are up above her posterior, which is very plump, and into which the swain is inserting the middle finger of his right hand."The drawing and general composition are good".Ashbee 1879, p. 363. See also James Hervey.Les Lunettes from les Contes de La FontaineInterior of a convent. An old nun is seated in an arm chair, surrounded by ten nuns in various attitudes, and generally naked up to the middle; she has her hands upon the hips of a young man dressed like a nun, whose erect penis is sticking almost into the old woman's eye."Drawing and execution rough, but effective." See Jean de La Fontaine, "Les Lunettes" (Contes et nouvelles en verse). Examining Samuel Spalding's The Philosophy of Christian Morals (1843) reveals this scene on its fore-edge.Schiff 1969, plate 36.Mudge 2000, pp. viii–xii.Such Things are or a peep into Kensington GardensA garden. Various figures of the most grotesque character, some with enormous members, two representing Phalli themselves, are embracing each other with the utmost lasciviousness; one young woman is running away in a fright; on a bench to the left are two partially erect Phalli; the back ground is filled in with trees."This is a most remarkable and original composition. … This composition displays much force, power and weird humour."Ashbee 1879, p. 364.Lord Barr—res Great Bottle ClubInterior. Six couples, around a table, are disporting themselves in the lewdest manner, and in various attitudes; all the women are naked up to the waist; one girl, with her clothes tucked over one arm, is dancing on the table, a punch-bowl in her hand. "Drunkenness and debauchery run riot throughout the composition, which is full of movement. The drawing is not bad, but is scarcely more than in outline."————Exterior of a cottage; to the right and left of which are two couples in the act; an old woman with a broom is beating two dogs stuck together, while another woman from the window is endeavouring to drive away two cats who are amusing themselves on the roof. "The drawing is poor, and the engraving rough, the animals, as usual, are very badly done."Ashbee 1879, p. 365.