The Flying Breakfast, or Contents of a Night Coach

Thomas Rowlandson|Anonymous, British, 18th century|S. W. Fores

March 9, 1792 · Hand-colored etching · Drawings and Prints

This satire shows coach passengers eating an early morning meal at an inn. The coachman stands at right with his hat and whip, and those seated include a woman who wears a hooded cape and yawns, a crying child, a man who leans back in his chair, a man who has taken off his wig and cap to yawn, and a man who drinks tea. A grandfather clock records the time as 5 am. An earlier state of the print published by John Walker in 1782 (1976.602.10) shows the woman seated at left has her eyes open. Here they are closed.

Artist

Thomas Rowlandson|Anonymous, British, 18th century|S. W. Fores

Date

March 9, 1792

Medium

Hand-colored etching

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Harry G. Friedman Bequest, 1967