Bibliotheek van de Royal Institution te Londen 1809

This hand-colored aquatint by renowned English caricaturist Thomas Rowlandson depicts the library of the Royal Institution in London, a hub for scientific advancement and intellectual pursuits. The artwork captures the bustling atmosphere of the library in 1809, showing gentlemen engaged in reading and discussion, highlighting the institution's role as a center of knowledge and debate. Rowlandson's keen eye for detail, evident in the meticulously rendered bookshelves and figures, provides a glimpse into the institution's grand interior and the spirit of intellectual inquiry that flourished within its walls.