The Anatomist, or Sham Doctor (1807)

The Anatomist, or Sham Doctor (1807)

Social satire, Medicine in art

The cast list from this 1807 edition of Ravenscroft’s The Anatomist includes Thomas Rowlandson’s close friend John Bannister (1760-1836). Known especially for his comedic talents, Bannister trained with the great David Garrick (1717-1779), owner and manager of the Royal Theatre at Drury Lane, where this version of The Anatomist was produced. One can imagine Rowlandson enjoying his friend’s performance as Crispin, whose opinions about a visit to the Doctor resonate with Rowlandson’s prints: “No hazard, call you it? I hazard my legs, my arms, veins, arteries, and muscles; and in the Doctor’s gibberish, I hazard incision, dissection, amputation, and circulation, thro’ the systole and diastole. Why sir, in such a case, a physician cuts up a man with as little remorse, as a hangman carves a traitor.”

Edward Ravenscroft (c.1654–1707)

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John Cawthorn, London

1807

Debra Cashion, in collaboration with Elisabeth Barrett, '15

Printed book on paper

English

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