Gipsy Encampment

Morland painted scenes of country life, from farm workers to smugglers. He had a reputation for identifying closely with those he painted, and lived with a travelling community for a short time. For wealthy patrons in an age of revolution, Morland’s familiarity with a world far removed from their own created a sense of excitement, although he was careful to avoid incorporating any genuine sense of threat. In this painting, the landscape is idealised rather than of a particular place, and the people appear healthy and contented.