
Thomas Rowlandson (1757-1827)
John Bull at the Italian Opera. 2 Oct 1811
RCIN 810857
Italian opera was sometimes the object of xenophobic disdain in London – as shown by the stoical reaction of John Bull in the upper tier. Rowlandson also plays on the infectious nature of yawning. He must have been aware that the buyers of this print would suffer as much as a number of the audience members.
Cat. 85