細節
After THOMAS ROWLANDSON
Rural Sports or a Cricket Match Extraordinary
hand-coloured etching, [London: published by Thomas Tegg, 1811 or later], 243 x 350mm. (9¾ x 13¾in.), framed and glazed.
Rural Sports or a Cricket Match Extraordinary
hand-coloured etching, [London: published by Thomas Tegg, 1811 or later], 243 x 350mm. (9¾ x 13¾in.), framed and glazed.
出版
Art of Cricket 101; The Noblest Game 26 (variant issue); Pageant of Cricket p. 54; Marjorie Pollard "Women as Cricketers" in The M.C.C. 1787-1937 (London, 1937). The sub-title reads: "On Wednesday 3rd October 1811 a Singular Cricket Match took place at Balls Pond, Newington. The Players on both sides were 22 Women, 11 Hampshire against 11 Surrey. The Match was made between two Amateur Noblemen of the respective Counties for 500 guineas each." According to a contemporary news report, there was "some very excellent play, and much skill was displayed; but the palm ... was borne off by a Hampshire lass, who made a 41 innings before she was thrown out." Whether Rowlandson was actually present at the game is a matter for conjecture. The engraving shows a two stump wicket, even though the middle stump had been introduced as early as 1776, and there is no sign of the loose "trousers" and light flannel waitscoats that were reportedly worn by the ladies. Ages are clearly mixed and some of the naked limbs being displayed in typical Rowlandson fashion are far from young or slender. The grotesque effect is increased by the steep gradient of the playing field. However, there is no boredom, and this is probably the key point. All are enjoying the occasion as three fielders go for a catch, one tripping over a dog in the process. A female scorer notches up runs in the foreground, while a woman drinks a libation outside a refreshment tent appropriately named the "Jolly Cricketers."