Rest from Labour on Sunny Days
Medium
Etching with stipple and aquatint
Dimensions
Plate: 9 11/16 x 6 15/16 in. (24.6 x 17.7 cm) Sheet: 18 1/2 x 12 3/8 in. (47 x 31.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1933
Accession Number
33.7(29)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Rest from Labour on Sunny Days" captures a serene pastoral moment, likely inspired by the Dutch Golden Age landscapes of Nicolaes Berchem. Created between 1784 and 1787 by British artist Thomas Rowlandson, the print depicts men and women pausing amid trees, accompanied by dogs and the gentle sounds of flutes. This idyllic scene evokes the pleasures of leisure in nature, a popular theme that blends rest with musical harmony. Rowlandson, known for his lively and often humorous works, employed etching with stipple and aquatint to achieve delicate tonal effects and soft textures. These techniques allowed for rich atmospheric depth, enhancing the sunny, inviting quality of the landscape while highlighting fine details in the figures and foliage. As a print from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, this work reflects the vibrant 18th-century British print culture, where such images brought refined artistic influences to wider audiences. Its warm depiction of everyday joy continues to offer viewers a timeless glimpse into moments of peaceful respite.
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson|Nicolaes Berchem · 1756–1827
Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was an English artist and caricaturist whose satirical watercolors and prints captured the social life of Georgian Britain with unparalleled wit and technical mastery. Alongside James Gillray, he is recognized as one of the greatest British graphic artists, and his distinctive flowing line and keen observations have made his work integral to understanding late 18th an...