Accession No

6917

Brief Description

satirical print, The March of Intellect, by William Heath, English, 23 January 1828

Origin

England; London; James's Street

Maker

Heath, William [artist] Humphrey, George [publisher]

Class

drawing

Earliest Date

1828

Latest Date

1828

Inscription Date

Material

paper

Dimensions

276mm (height) x 390mm (width)

Special Collection

Provenance

Purchased from Grosvenor Prints in 2025

Inscription

Description Notes

A piece of satirical artwork by William Heath, published by George Humphrey, titled 'The March of Intellect', English, 23 January 1828.

This rare hand-coloured etching depicts the absurdities of modern technology in London, England and the consequences of education for the masses. Among the details are a Channel Bridge, the Thames Tunnel being flooded, a warship held aloft by balloons bombing the enemy fleet, a coal merchant playing chess and a man using a windlass to hoist chairs up a vertical chute from the street. A rare satire: George Humphrey could only describe a photograph of the example in the collection of the Earl of Harrowby, although the British Museum has subsequently acquired an example. The artwork is washed by a light yellow tint and is glued onto a beige-brown card backboard. [Ref: 57478].

References

Events