Kmflett's Blog

Outside the Ale-House Door 1792 George Morland 1763-1804 Bequeathed by George Salting 1910 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/N02639

Its Dry January and Tryanuary and whether you are following one or the other or somewhere in between, its worth underlining the point about beer and the Freeborn Englishman. There is a good deal of writing about this in Cobbett’s Rural Rides but associated here is a rare painting demonstrating the connection.

The painting At the Alehouse Door is by George Morland, dates from 1792 (1763-1804) and is in the Tate. It shows two peasants have a discussion over a beer outside the door of an alehouse (hence the title!).

In his book The Dark Side of the Landscape John Barrell makes the point that while many such paintings were idealised Morland’s work tended more to the documentary. One wonders what the two men are discussing? The price of beer? The French Revolution?