Macassar Oil

Dublin Core

Title

Macassar Oil

Subject

Social satire, Medicine in art

Description

In Macassar Oil, an apothecary vendor pours oil on a bald man’s head, while a woman behind them looks shocked at the reflection of her hair standing on end. A sign on the rear wall advertises a miracle product: “Macassar Oil, for the Growth of Hair, is the finest invention ever known for encreasing hair on bald Places, Its virtues are pre-eminent for improving and beautifying the Hair of Ladies and Gentlemen.” Dozens of elixirs and other remedies line the shelves, and the large oil jar suggests products of exotic provenance. A tall fools’ cap with ass’s ears indicates the artist’s opinion of “soft heads” naïve enough to spend money in this shop.

Creator

Thomas Rowlandson (1757 – 1827)

Source

[no text]

Publisher

Thomas Tegg, London

Date

1811

Contributor

Debra Cashion, in collaboration with Elisabeth Barrett, '15

Format

Hand colored etching; original dimensions, 350 x 248 mm

Language

[no text]

Type

Still image

Identifier

[no text]

Coverage

[no text]

Files

Macassar Oil (2).jpg

Collection

Citation

Thomas Rowlandson (1757 – 1827), “Macassar Oil,” The Anatomist: Early Modern Medical Satire, accessed March 28, 2024, https://anatomist.omeka.net/items/show/4.