Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

The resurrection or An internal view of the museum in W-d-m-ll Street, on the last day

Image not available
Thomas Rowlandson

The resurrection or An internal view of the museum in W-d-m-ll Street, on the last day

Published

[London] : Pubd. as the Act directs Feby. 6th. 1782 by H. Humphrey No. 18 New Bond Street, [1782]

etching
image: 163 x 305 mm; plate mark: 188 x 313 mm; sheet: 199 x 328 mm
Peel 2361
Notes
Attributed in some sources to Thomas Rowlandson. Cf. British Museum online catalog.
Title from item.
"The anatomical collections here satirized are now in the Hunterian Museum of Glasgow University."--Curatorial comments, British Museum online catalog.
Provenance

Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.

Summary

Print shows the interior of a large circular building, the roof supported by two tiers of columns. This is the anatomical museum of William Hunter (1718-1783), who in 1770 built a house with a lecture-theatre, dissecting-room, and museum for his anatomical and pathological collections. A row of figures extends across the foreground: in the centre is William Hunter in a tie-wig, saying, "O what a smash among my Bottles and Preparations! never did I suppose that such a day could come". The other figures, those of specimens, either nude figures or skeletons, are (left to right): a man saying, "My wife risen again! - that's one Rib more than I wish'd to find". Next, a man turning his head to the right holds out a leg, his own left leg having been amputated above the knee, saying, "What this! arrah be easy my Dear Devil burn me if it be not my own I know it by the lump on the Shin here". His neighbour, whose left leg is also missing, says to him, "Damn me Sir that's my Legg". A headless man addresses Hunter saying, "Where's my Head".On Hunter's left hand an old woman with a stick says to him, "Restore to me my Virgin-honor did I keep it inviolated 75 Years to have it corked up at last". Next are two skeletons shaking hands with each other: one says, "Prodigously oblig'd to you Sweet Sir", the other says, "My dear Madam I hope you are well I am over-joyed to see you". A fat man in profile to the right says, "Lack a day' did nobody see an odd large Stomach O what shall I do if I have lost my Stomach". Behind is a small hunchback, ringing a bell and shouting. Under the colonnade in the distance are minute figures: a demon, two persons embracing, and a gesticulating figure. Under the upper colonnade stands another demon (right). Cf. British Museum catalog.

Associated names
Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, attributed name.
Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.
Classification
Department
Century prints