Museum number
A364
Object
Framed oil painting: The Deserter Pardoned by George Morland (1763–1804), oil on canvas 1792
Description
The picture is fourth in a series of dramatic episodes on the theme of a soldier's life, including Trepanning the Recruit, The Recruiter Deserted and The Deserter Taking leave of his Wife. The series were engraved as mezzotints by G. Keeting and published by John Raphael Smith in 1791. The first scene shows a simple country lad being persuaded to enlist by the sergaent. The next two deal with his desertion and subsequent arrest. In the present picture, the deserter is pardoned by the noble captain and restored to his family.
Materials
Oil
Inscription
Signed lower right: G Morland and dated 1792.
On display?
No

Further description

Simple name
Painting
Dimensions
framed: 6cm (d) x 64.5cm (h) x 56.5cm (w)
regular: 45.00cm (h) x 54.4cm (w)
The Deserter Pardoned George Morland (1763–1804) Oil on canvas, 1792 Signed G Morland 1792 This little drama, about justice for soldiers’ families, is the last in a series of four scenes made into popular engravings. They tell how a simple country lad enlists as a soldier only to run away home to his wife. In this happy ending, the deserter is pardoned and restored to his family. As she kneels in gratitude, the pretty wife grasps the generous captain’s hand. The deserter, in civilian clothes, averts his eyes to see his little child joyfully clutching his leg. A364 Bequest of Ernest E. Cook through the Art Fund, 1955

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