An Old Man Leafing Through a Print Album, Next to His Young Wife

T. Smith (mentioned on object), 1786-12

Wealthy art collectors are often older men who indulge in paintings, prints or drawings of nude goddesses in their leisure time. At least, that is the image presented by many 18th-century British satirical prints. Often depicting ‘connoisseurs’ of art as caricatures, these prints served as a critique of the art world, which was seen by many artists as prudish and hypocritical.