William Ward after George Morland.

The First of September Morning.
[&]
The First of September Evening.

23½ x 19 inches

The bucolic, sentimental scenes of George Morland conjure up all that was cherished about rural society in Georgian England. The pastoral tranquillity came with a political message, portraying the English countryside as a peaceful place in contrast with turbulence and insurrection across the channel in post-Revolutionary France.

These prints are, essentially, to do with shooting. In the Morning plate the horses and hounds are being prepared for a day's shooting and the gun lies up against the stable wall, ominously pointing towards the farm cat! By Evening, a rabbit has been shot and sold to the inn keeper or, perhaps, given in exchange for ale. A fabulous sunset can be seen across the furze and all is well with the world although we do not know the fate of the cat! Such was the popularity of Morland's paintings that upwards of 250 of his works were reproduced in print. Who better to chose for the task than his brother-in-law, William Ward!