Preparatory drawing for the engraving 'This is the House that Jack Built'

This is a preparatory drawing by Thomas Rowlandson for a satirical engraving by him entitled 'This is the House that Jack Built'.

Rowlandson's sketch shows the empty interior of the new Covent Garden theatre which was rebuilt in 1809 after it was destroyed by a fire. The proscenium can be seen on the left, with three tiers of boxes to the right. The drawing is annotated with notes made by the artist and at the bottom of the drawing can be read: 'These are the Boxes let to the Great, that visit the House that Jack Built'.

The finished work comprised six images, of which this is a sketch for the first. The series of images, with text underneath, focused on the revolt of the audience at Covent Garden theatre, following the reopening of the theatre with much increased seat prices. Campaigns for the 'old prices' took place between 18 September and 23 September.

Rowlandson's image seeks to accentuate the division between the 'private rooms' labelled here and the less desirable seats, known as 'rabbit hutches' and 'pigeon holes'. His completed engraving addressed contemporary grievances regarding the increase in ticket prices and the preferential treatment of some visitors to the theatre, at the expense of others.