Downfall of Monopoly in 1800

Thomas Rowlandson

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing depicting a chaotic scene involving the downfall of monopoly in 1800. The image shows a crowded caricature with dynamic, exaggerated movements. On the left side, a group of men representing different commodities are struggling and being swept away. Each man is dressed in distinctive 18th-century attire with expressions of shock or distress. A skeletal figure on a horse, referencing Death, ominously moves through the crowd, whipping them along. On the right side, there is a more serene atmosphere with women and children basking in light. A large statue holding a trident symbolizes justice or authority, overseeing the scene. Sailing ships are visible in the distant sea under a bright sky. The artwork is rich in satire, exaggerating the figures to amplify the drama and turmoil associated with the end of monopolistic control during the period.