Lot 726: Thomas Hand (died 1804 England) A horse, tethered by its tail before a tumbledown table,

A horse, tethered by its tail before a tumbledown table,
signed (three times) and extensively inscribed, oil on canvas laid on panel,
26 x 29cm (10 1/4 x 11 7/16in).

Thomas hand was a gifted pupil of George Morland, who imitated and copied Morland's pictures and passed them off as Morland's work. It is widely supposed that he did this with Morland's consent. Biographies of Morland record his rakish life and it seems that Hand joined Morland on his exploits.

The wording on this picture perhaps is testament to one of these wild diversions of gaming and drinking.