2-871-266 - Shirley Markham Collection/Heritage Images

Market Place, Cornwall, c1780-1825. '"Market Place, Cornwall" is of the essence of Rowlandson's village-scene subjects. In it he achieves qualities of drawing and color not to be found in any contemporary's work. As a caricature artist, he lived before his time; popularity was his even during the period when his work followed the pattern of that of his contemporaries and before he had fully developed the idiosyncrasies of his unique individuality...He had no worldly ambitions; therefore, he suffered no great artistic losses, although several financial ones. He raised himself to such excellence in his art that by innate inclination and experience he reached the greatest heights'. From "The Watercolour Drawings of Thomas Rowlandson from the Albert H. Wiggin Collection in the Boston Public Library" with commentary by Arthur W. Heintzelman. [Watson-Guptill Publications, Inc., New York, 1947]