Skip to main content
Alternatively search all objects in our collectionAlternatively search our collection
  • Shop
  • Account
Visit What's on Objects & Stories Schools & Communities Join & Support
  • Visit
  • Visit London Museum Docklands
  • Free galleries
  • Families
  • Access
  • London Museum Opening 2026
  • About the project
  • About the buildings
  • About the architects
  • What's on
  • Find events
  • Fun for families
  • Group visits
  • Free galleries
  • Top things to see for free
  • Fun for under-8s
  • Objects & Stories
  • Search the collections
  • About our collections
  • Research
  • What's in your borough?
  • Browse by time period
  • Explore London stories
  • Blog
  • Schools & Communities
  • Schools
  • Schools sessions
  • Schools resources
  • Community engagement
  • Engagement Charter
  • Join & Support
  • Donate
  • Membership Coming soon...
  • Corporate support
  • Legacy gifts
  • Our supporters
  • Home
  • Visit
    • Back
    • Visit
    • Visit London Museum Docklands
    • Free galleries
    • Families
    • Access
    • London Museum Opening 2026
    • About the project
    • About the buildings
    • About the architects
  • What's on
    • Back
    • What's on
    • Find events
    • Fun for families
    • Group visits
    • Free galleries
    • Top things to see for free
    • Fun for under-8s
  • Objects & Stories
    • Back
    • Objects & Stories
    • Search the collections
    • About our collections
    • Research
    • What's in your borough?
    • Browse by time period
    • Explore London stories
    • Blog
  • Schools & Communities
    • Back
    • Schools & Communities
    • Schools
    • Schools sessions
    • Schools resources
    • Community engagement
    • Engagement Charter
  • Join & Support
    • Back
    • Join & Support
    • Donate
    • Membership Coming soon...
    • Corporate support
    • Legacy gifts
    • Our supporters
  • Shop
  • Account
  • Home
  • Objects & Stories

Paintings, Prints & Drawings — 1859

Breakfasting Out

Improving our records

We're actively looking for ways to improve our object records, including using artificial intelligence to generate alt text for some object images. If you think we've made a mistake or have information about an object that you'd like to share, you can fill in the details below.

Our collections contain objects and information which some people may consider sensitive or offensive. Some of the text was written in past decades and reflects the language and social attitudes of the time. Find out more

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

A baker's man, a boy shoe-black sitting in a wheelbarrow, and a young woman carrying a bandbox, presumably a milliner, are shown with cups of coffee, while the proprietress is washing up. On the left is a ragged girl with broom, evidently a crossing sweeper, and a woman with a basket on her head. A dandified young man eyes the milliner with interest whilst the proprietress watches the couple impassively.

Dowling was born, and for most of his career worked, in Australia. He did, though, train in London, at the Royal Academy and exhibited this painting there in 1859. The Art Union Journal of June 1859 had this to say about it: 'Breakfasting Out by R. Dowling. Literally breakfasting out, for it is a street breakfast – … and the party a ‘mixture’, but the characters are very judiciously selected and everywhere the painting and drawing are unexceptionable.'

Category:
Paintings, Prints & Drawings
Object ID:
53.28
Object name:
Breakfasting Out
Object type:

painting, oil painting

Artist/Maker:
Dowling, Robert
Related people:

Related events:

Related places:

London

Production date:
1859
Material:

oil, canvas, wood

Measurements/duration:
H 600 mm, W 897 mm (unframed), H 780 mm, W 1090 mm, D 100 mm (framed)
Part of:
—
On display:
—
Record quality:
100%
Part of this object:
—
Owner Status & Credit:

Permanent collection

Copyright holder:

digital image © London Museum

Image credit:
—
Creative commons usage:
—
License this image:

To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.

Tags

Paintings, Prints & Drawings Victorian Art & Design Trades & Workers Nature & Environment Food & Diet
  • London Museum

    London Museum

    Smithfield
    London EC1A 9PS

    Opening 2026
  • London Museum Docklands

    London Museum Docklands

    No. 1 Warehouse
    West India Quay
    London E14 4AL
    Tube & DLR: Canary Wharf
    or West India Quay

    Monday to Sunday:
    10am – 5pm
    Free entry

    Closed 24, 25 & 26 Dec

  • London Museum Stores

    London Museum Stores

    46 Eagle Wharf Road
    London N1 7ED

    Currently closed to the public

  • London Museum Spaces

    London Museum Spaces

    150 London Wall
    London EC2Y 5HN

    Open for venue hire only

Subscribe and get email updates:

Subscribe

Share your London experiences with us:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Visit
  • London Museum
  • London Museum Docklands
  • Families
  • Plan your visit
  • Ticketing info
  • Access
  • What's on
  • Free galleries
  • Group visits
  • Objects & Stories
  • About our collections
  • What we collect
  • Collections access & enquiries
  • Managing our collections
  • Improving our collections
  • Schools & Communities
  • Schools
  • Schools sessions
  • Schools resources
  • Community engagement
  • About
  • Our locations
  • Careers
  • Press
  • Supporting London Museums
  • Policies
  • Contact us
  • Join & Support
  • Donate
  • Membership
  • Corporate support
  • London stories
  • Blog
  • Browse by borough
  • Browse by time period
  • Commercial
  • Venue hire
  • Picture Library
  • Location filming & photography
  • Visit
  • London Museum
  • London Museum Docklands
  • Families
  • Plan your visit
  • Ticketing info
  • Access
  • What's on
  • Free galleries
  • Group visits
  • Objects & Stories
  • About our collections
  • What we collect
  • Collections access & enquiries
  • Managing our collections
  • Improving our collections
  • Schools & Communities
  • Schools
  • Schools sessions
  • Schools resources
  • Community engagement
  • About
  • Our locations
  • Careers
  • Press
  • Supporting London Museums
  • Policies
  • Contact us
  • Join & Support
  • Donate
  • Membership
  • Corporate support
  • London stories
  • Blog
  • Browse by borough
  • Browse by time period
  • Commercial
  • Venue hire
  • Picture Library
  • Location filming & photography
City of London logo Supported by Mayor of London logo Supported using public funding by Arts Council England logo
Bloomberg Philanthropies

The London Museum website was developed with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture.

  • Terms of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • Website accessibility policy
Museum of London registered charity number 1139250