George Morland 1763-1804

George Morland was born in Haymarket, London, the son of an artist and art dealer Henry Robert Morland. His son was so talented he exhibited at the RA at the age of 14. You would have thought a great future lay ahead for this young man.  He married Ann Ward, the sister to James Ward an artist.  He was never short of work and was prodigious, and would have carried on that way, but for the drink. He was a fun loving, entertaining, man with a sense of humour, he would have been excellent company at any inn. Ann did leave him after a couple of years, but to give him his due he provided for her all his life. This little painting was probably done for the Inn Keeper and handed over for debts. It is I am quite sure one of his, the white horse was his signiture. Sadly the drink took its toll on his health but he was 67 when he died, which suggests that he must have come from strong stock to live that long. 

This is a list of his consumption at Brighton one day;

 Before breakfast: Holland gin, rum and milk

Breakfast: coffee

Before dinner: Holland gin, porter, shrub, ale, Holland and water, port wine and ginger, bottled porter,

Dinner: port wine .

After dinner: Porter, bottler porter, punch. porter ale, opium and water

Supper: Gin and water, shrub,

Going to bed: Rum.

After writing this down he added .’Here lies a Drunken Dog.’

His wife died two years after him and they are buried in Hamstead. 

Purchased from Crows Auction House, Dorking. 2025