'A Visit to the Boarding School', coloured mezzotint by William Ward after a painting by George Morland; England, 1789

Coloured mezzotint of landscape proportions showing a fashionably dressed mother visiting her daughter at boarding school: the scene shows her sitting in a sparsely furnished room with another woman, presumably the proprietor (who appears to have been discussing the girl's work with her). The mother holds out gloved hands to the girl, who wears a brown striped gown, and is being led towards her by a young woman (probably a mistress) wearing a pale blue open gown with scissors hanging from her waist. The girl is also greeted by a younger boy in a dark blue skeleton suit and red sash, who has apparently thrown his hobby horse and hat on the floor as he runs up to her with a peach from the mother's basket. Two other girls, presumably also pupils, are standing in the garden just beyond the open doorway.

Bought of Michael Finnney Antique Books and Prints, 15 Pierrepont Arcade, Camden Passage, London N1 8EF, with another Ward mezzotint of a Morland painting (Misc.709-1992): £350 for the two. RF 91/856

The original painting by George Morland (1763-1804) is now in the Wallace Collection, London.

At this date it was by no means taken for granted that a girl would receive more than a very basic education, even in a wealthy family. Aside from charity school pupils (clearly not the case here), sending her away to boarding school was even more unusual. It possibly suggests that this child is from a family which has gone up in the world and wishes to demonstrate its wealth, as well as introducing her to girls of more established families who will be useful social contacts for her later in life.

The Wallace Collection, which contains the original painting, suggests on its website that the girl is the same child who was being visited at her wet nurse's cottage in Morland's painting 'A Visit to the Child at Nurse', and from which Ward also made a mezzotint (see Misc.709-1992).

MISC.710-1992