Doctor Syntax Setting Out in Search of A Wife

Thomas Rowlandson made this hand-colored etching, "Doctor Syntax Setting Out in Search of a Wife," in England, sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. Rowlandson was known for his satirical prints, which often commented on the social mores and follies of his time. Here, we see a clergyman riding rather awkwardly, whip in hand, presumably off to find a spouse. The image uses caricature to poke fun at the institution of marriage and the social expectations placed upon men of the cloth. The humor derives from the tension between the clergyman's supposed piety and the rather mundane, even base, pursuit of a wife. To better understand this image, we might research the social history of marriage in England during this period. What were the expectations for clergymen? How did economic factors influence marriage decisions? Investigating these questions will provide a richer understanding of Rowlandson's critique. Art becomes a window into understanding the nuances of its social context.