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Gallery Talk: Seeing through Laughter—Thomas Rowlandson

A drawing depicts an audience of men watching two men fence in the center of an interior space.
Thomas Rowlandson, British, Mr. H. Angelo’s Fencing Academy, 1791. Watercolor and black ink over traces of graphite on cream antique laid paper. Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Bequest of Grenville L. Winthrop, 1943.503.

Gallery Talk

In-Person
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA

This event requires registration; see further details below.

Join curatorial intern Joseph Foo ’26 for a lively conversation about a group of humorous yet insightful watercolors by Thomas Rowlandson. A satirist of the Georgian era, Rowlandson masterfully incorporated biting social commentaries into his delightful drawings that stir and amuse the mind. Whether you are looking for art historical facts for trivia night or a simple laugh, we have something for you!

Our galleries are full of stories—this series of talks gives visitors a chance to hear the best ones! The talks highlight new works on view, take a fresh look at old favorites, investigate artists’ materials and techniques, and reveal the latest discoveries by curators, conservators, fellows, visiting artists, technologists, and other contributors.

Led by:
Joseph Foo ’26, Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Drawings, Division of European and American Art

Gallery talks are limited to 18 people and registration is required. You can register by clicking on the event on this form, beginning at 10am the day of the talk.

Please meet in the Calderwood Courtyard, in front of the digital screens between the shop and the admissions desk.

The Harvard Art Museums are now offering free admission every day, Tuesday through Sunday. Please see the museum visit page to learn about our general policies for visiting the museums.

The Harvard Art Museums are committed to accessibility for all visitors. For anyone requiring accessibility accommodations for our programs, please contact us at am_register@harvard.edu at least 48 hours in advance.