Sailors on Horseback
Three sailors ride away from the seashore, and all are having difficulties. A fourth is on his hands and knees at extreme left, and looks up to say: "Mind what you are at Messmates for I am upset, and the frigate I came on board of—has been under weigh, without me this half hour." The rider at the front clasps his rearing horse around the neck, and looks back to say: "Keep more to the Star-board and be D—d, to you—dont you see how you make my vessel, run a head." The next man is tied to his horse with heavy ropes, and he says: "Here I come my Hearty's —Right and tight,—smart sailing, but never mind that—I cant be cast away for my commander, Heavens bless him has lash'd me to the deck, with some tough Old Cables!" The last sailor's horse kicks with tail erect, and he exclaims: "D—n me—how she heaves. Why this is worse than a Jolly Boat, in the Bay of Biscay. and what a D—d noise she makes in her poop—Signals for sailing I suppose."
Artwork Details
- Title: Sailors on Horseback
- Artist: Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London)
- Publisher: Thomas Tegg (British, London 1776–1846 London)
- Date: March 16, 1811
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Sheet: 9 3/16 × 13 1/8 in. (23.4 × 33.3 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
- Object Number: 59.533.1410
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Thomas Rowlandson
1780–1827
Thomas Rowlandson
1780–1827
Thomas Rowlandson
1780–1827
Multiple artists/makers
January 1794
Thomas Rowlandson
late 18th–early 19th century
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