Morning or the man of Taste

Henry William Bunbury

Morning or the man of Taste

London, ca. 1785

Etching

Original hand colouring

250 x 340 mm

£160

A version of a Bunbury caricature in an oval, this one in reverse.

A man and wife seated at a circular breakfast-table. The man, who is obese and a gourmand, sits in profile to the left. holding a bowl with a spoon in it in one hand, a bill of fare in the other inscribed “Soup . . . Turbot. Duck . . Lamb”. He is wearing spectacles and a large piece of food projects from his mouth. The cook is showing his master a dead duck, which he holds up in his left hand; in his right, and partly supported by his knee, is a tray on which are two lobsters and a turbot. The lady, who is also fat, holds up her hands in horror at the cook, who, from his leanness, his profile, and his bag-wig, solitaire, and ruffled shirt, is evidently a Frenchman. He wears a white cap and an apron, a large knife is thrust under his belt. On the right a footman enters carrying in each hand a plate piled with muffins. Tea-things are on the table. Under the table a small dog, befouling the floor, is partly visible. Behind is a screen of several leaves, on the top of which is a bird, resembling a large dove