A Chorus of Singers 1790 - 1810

Dent made this etching, *A Chorus of Singers*, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. Here, we see the performers of a choir, directed by a conductor who seems to hover above them. In the 18th century, choral societies had become a popular form of entertainment for the middle classes. In this work, Dent satirizes the amateurism of such groups. Note the variety of expressions: some singers are trying hard while others seem distracted, and the conductor seems like a tyrant. The print is titled ‘Judith Oratoria,’ so we can assume the choir is about to perform a well-known sacred work. As such, Dent is subtly commenting on the place of religion and art in British society. As art historians, we can examine the visual culture of Georgian England, using printed ephemera like this. The print's caricature style, combined with its subject matter, offers an important window onto the social landscape of the time.