1796 Coloured Engraving No. 6 The Dram After George Morland

A rare print after George Morland’s No. 6 The Dram engraved by William Ward.

The print is a hand-coloured mezzotint and was published b ‘I.R. Smith King Street, Covent Garden’ on August 30th 1796. It depicts a family, gathering at the entrance of a thatched Inn. A barmaid pours a dram of liquor, whilst a mother cradles her young child. A small spaniel-dog sits at the side of the lane. The spire of the village church can be seen in the background.

George Morland (1763 -1804) was an English pastoral painter, best known for his depictions of the provincial middle classes. Beginning at the age of three, it took just seven years for him to exhibit at the Royal Academy. Perhaps a consequence of his father’s overbearing influence on his early years, Morland would lead a life of hard work and hard drinking. His prodigious output saw that by the end of his career he had painted over 4000 paintings. Many of these were used to settle debts with creditors or tabs in local taverns.

William Ward A.R.A. was married to Maria Morland, the sister of George. He was appointed engraver to the Duke of York in 1803 and to the Prince of Wales soon after.

The condition of the print is excellent, having been well framed and protected over the years.

Size of Frame: 72.4 x 56.5 x 2.5cm (28½ x 22¼”)
Size of Image: 56 x 43.5cm (22” x 17”)
Weight: 3kg