Mirror of Mirth: Satire in Georgian Bath featuring artworks by Rowlandson and Nixon

Opening on 24 January, Mirror of Mirth will showcase over 200 of the gallery’s finest satirical artworks, featuring the humorous works of Thomas Rowlandson, John Nixon, and other artists of the era. This exhibition promises to pull back the curtain on 18th-century Bath, exposing the scandals, quirks, and lively social scene of the time with a playful yet revealing lens.

In the late 18th century, London’s craze for satire was at its peak, with Thomas Rowlandson leading the charge. His sharp eye and prolific pencil spared no one among the elite, and when the great and the good escaped to the elegant spa resort of Bath for the season, Rowlandson followed, inviting his friend John Nixon to join him.

A merchant and talented amateur artist, Nixon brought his own light-hearted take, and together they captured the quirks of Georgian life, from the wealthy aristocrats to the everyday figures in their shadow.

These comic artworks would have been displayed and sold in print shops around Bath, to the amusement of passersby. They poked fun at the ‘nouveau riche’ who frequented Bath at the time, and even helped change public perceptions of the politics of the day.

Mirror of Mirth will include the finest satirical works from the Victoria Art Gallery collection, including Rowlandson’s celebrated Comforts of Bath series, a boisterous survey of the activities offered in the city. The teasing observational sketches of Nixon offer a gentler alternative to Rowlandson’s scathing send-ups.

Exhibition Curator Jim Riseley said: "We’re thrilled to be showcasing the Victoria Art Gallery’s extensive collection of satirical art. Rowlandson and Nixon’s lively scenes – from dancing in the Pump Room to bathing in Bath’s thermal waters – give us a fascinating glimpse into the social life of 18th-century Bath, and remind us of the timeless power of humour to hold a mirror to society.”

To accompany the exhibition there will be a children’s trail, and free craft workshops for families in February half term and the Easter holidays.

Alongside the Mirror of Mirth exhibition, the Gallery will host a display of work by contemporary artist Perry Harris, a cartoonist and landscape artist who uses paint and digital colour to bring Bath to life. He has worked in a variety of areas: a cartoonist for punk fanzines, stage scenery painter, architectural illustrator and art technician. He currently balances being a school caretaker with creating his own artwork. This selling exhibition will focus on cartoons and watercolours of Perry’s favourite Bath landscapes, including Primrose Hill, the Cotswold Way and Smallcombe Vale.

Perry Harris said: “This exhibition brings together various aspects of my work: the cartoons of Bath are inspired by underground comics and skills learnt as an architectural illustrator. The more painterly watercolours are inspired by my love of nature and revisiting my earlier love of painting.”

Mirror of Mirth runs from 24 January to 21 April 2025. Tickets are available at victoriagal.org.uk.

Perry Harris: Essence of Bath runs from 14 January to 13 April 2025, and is free to view in the small gallery by the Victoria Art Gallery shop.