The tailor (left) drops his gun, which is going off, and staggers backwards, holding up both hands in alarm; his wig and hat are falling off. A tape-measure hangs from his coat-pocket. Four birds fly away (right). In the middle-distance a man with a spade, his hands on his hips, is grinning at the sportsman. In the foreground (right) is a tree, in the distance are bushes, a windmill, a thatched cottage, and a haycock. Beneath the design is engraved:
"there once was a taylor a shooting wou'd go,
who before had ne'er fir'd a gun we well know;
the piece double charg'd hit him full on the breast,
and gave him the attitude here as express'd
the gun left his hand and the birds flew away
and the taylor's been sick of the sport to this day. " 4 june 1782
etching with stipple. Date: 1782. Dimensions: Height: 180 mm; Width: 230 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. The sailor turn'd sportsman (BM 1861,0518.957)
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