Reference code
JU/4/33
Title
George Morland, Ship Inn Dover, to [Philip] Dawe
Date
Fryday [1785]
Level
Item
Extent & medium
1 piece
Historical Background
"In 1785 a Mrs Hill from Margate employed [Morland] to paint portraits there. With her he travelled to France in October 1785, the only continental trip of his career. However, his attempts at portraiture clearly did not suit him and he returned to London, where he began to work for print dealers, among them the print publisher and engraver John Raphael Smith, who may well have encouraged the young Morland in his dissolute habits." [DNB.]
Content Description
Morland expresses admiration for Dover, but says that Sandwich is the most horrible place that can be imagined. It is likely that he will go over to France with Mrs Hill. He sends his compliments to the Congress, " except that Jew-Looking Fellow."
Bibliography
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography [DNB]: George Morland.