The Flying Breakfast

Anonymous, British, 19th century|John Walker|Thomas Rowlandson

August 1, 1782 · 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. A later state of the print was published by S. W. Fores in 1792 (67.539.63), titled "The Flying Breakfast, or Contents of a Night Coach." In that work, the woman seated at the left side of the table has her eyes closed. Here they are open.

Artist

Anonymous, British, 19th century|John Walker|Thomas Rowlandson

Date

August 1, 1782

Medium

Etching

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Adele S. Gollin, 1976