1793
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
The Miseries of Idleness is a 1793 oil by George Morland, held at National Galleries Scotland.
This painting depicts a family scene, with a woman sitting on a chair, a man sitting on a bench, and two children playing on the floor. The woman is dressed in a long skirt and a hat, while the man wears a green jacket and shorts. The children are engaged in various activities, with one lying on a basket and the other sitting on a barrel. The room is dimly lit, with a window on the left side that allows a glimpse of the outside world. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of warmth and comfort, despite the somewhat disheveled state of the room. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting adds depth and dimension to the scene, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figures. To learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
George Morland (26 June 1763 – 29 October 1804) was an English painter. His early work was influenced by Francis Wheatley, but after the 1790s he came into his own style. His best compositions focus on rustic scenes:…
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