Who painted The Full of the Honey-Moon?

The Full of the Honey-Moon was painted by Robert Laurie in 1789.

Where can I see The Full of the Honey-Moon?

The Full of the Honey-Moon is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Full of the Honey-Moon?

The Full of the Honey-Moon is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of The Full of the Honey-Moon?

Museum-quality prints of The Full of the Honey-Moon are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Full of the Honey-Moon

Robert Laurie , 1789

The Full of the Honey-Moon is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Robert Laurie. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate: Painted by F. Wheatley; lower center in plate: THE FULL OF THE HONEY-MOON. / The Honey moon scarce full, the Bride-groom cloys, / And seek's a Wanton's Arms to prove new joys; / The Bride discovers all, and in vexation / Resolves to punish by retaliation. / Published 1st Sepr 1789 by Robt. Sayer, 53 Fleet-Street, LONDON; lower right in plate: Engraved by R. Laurie …

About this work

Overview

Robert Laurie’s 1789 mezzotint, titled The Full of the Honey-Moon, presents an interior scene of a young couple in elaborate eighteenth‑century attire. The woman, seated and gesturing toward a paper, appears distressed, while the kneeling man looks weary. Objects such as a desk with ink bottles, a mirror, and an ornamental pillar frame the narrative.

Subject & Meaning

The composition suggests a domestic dispute shortly after marriage, hinted at by the title’s reference to a honeymoon. The woman’s pointed finger toward the document implies a letter or contract that has altered the couple’s expectations, conveying themes of marital tension and the fragility of romantic idealism.

Technique & Style

Executed in mezzotint on laid paper, Laurie employs the medium’s capacity for rich tonal gradations to model the figures and furnishings. The soft transitions between light and shadow create a chiaroscuro effect, while the fine line work on the clothing and accessories underscores the period’s fashion details.

History & Provenance

Created in 1789, the print belongs to the late eighteenth‑century British print market, where mezzotints were popular for disseminating narrative scenes. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the work is catalogued among Laurie’s known prints and has appeared in several collections of British graphic art.

Context

The image aligns with contemporary interests in domestic genre scenes that explore personal relationships and moral lessons. Its dramatic storytelling anticipates the heightened emotional focus later associated with Romanticism, while still rooted in the Enlightenment’s attention to everyday life.