18th Century Naps

Last updated: Jan 23, 2025

Looking for a historically accurate activity you can do on your own or with a group at an 18th century living history event? Taking a nap can be done authentically with no specialized equipment, no safety orientations, and absolutely no training at all.

Napping is appropriate in civilian and military contexts, at almost any socioeconomic level. This activity is suitable for men, women, and children at any age. You can sit in a chair, or sit under a tree – or just fall asleep on a comfortable section of the ground. If your historic site’s manager or reenactment unit’s commanding officer has any doubts about interpretive napping at 18th century events, direct them to these illustrations.

Remember: You are not merely dozing. You are adding a level of realism that enhances the vérité of the scenario at your living history event. This is important work you are doing.

• A woman sleeping in a window by Melchior Brassauw, c. 1724-1757
• The Sleeping Congregation by William Hogarth, 1728
• Sleeping child
• The Practical Joke, c. 1740
• The Sleeping Knitter
• Man asleep, leaning against a table by Louis Philippe Boitard
• A man asleep with hands crossed in a chair by Louis Philippe Boitard
• Man asleep in a long blue coat by Louis Philippe Boitard
• The Merchant by Pierre Louis Dumesnil, c. 1750-1781
• Sleepy Maid, 1756
• A Scene from ‘The Careless Husband’ by Philippe Mercier
• A Sleeping Girl by Pietro Rotari, 1760/1762
• Study of two peasant boys by Francesco Londonio, c. 1760-1765
• A sleeping woman by Paul Sandby
• A young man asleep by George Lambert
• The Sleeping Kitchen Maid by Peter Jakob Horemans, 1765
• Study of a girl asleep by George Romney
• The Curious Maids, 1768
• Sitting man on a chair, asleep by Guillaume Saint, 1769
• Shepherd sleeping by François Boucher
• View of the Round and Devil’s Towers, Windsor Castle by Paul Sandby, c. 1770
• George Morland, when a boy by Paul Sandby, c. 1770
• Jefferies, Map & Printseller of St Martin’s Lane by Paul Sandby, c. 1770-1780
• A young lady sleeping, c. 1770-1789
• Jefferies, Map & Printseller of St Martin’s Lane by Paul Sandby, c. 1770-1780
• Page Boy Asleep by Benjamin West
• A sleeping boy with a hat by Balthasar Paul Ommeganck
• Pretty Miss Asleep, 1771
• The Sleeping Macaroni Ste—aling a Nap (the 2nd Lord Holland) by James Bretherton, 1772
• A Sunday Evening, 1772
• The Voluptuos Luxurious Spendthrift Macaroni from Holland in a Breathing Sweat (one of the sons of Lord Holland), 1773
• The Bottle Companions, 1775
• The Sleeping Beauty, c. 1775
• Francis Grose asleep in a chair by Paul Sandby
• A young woman sleeping (h/t Susan Holloway Scott)
• Vicar and Moses by Thomas Rowlandson, c. 1785
• O Tempora, O Mores!, 1787
• Smithfield Sharpers, or the Countrymen Defrauded, 1787
• Sleeping woman watched by a man by Thomas Rowlandson
• The Doctor Overcame by Thomas Rowlandson
• The Dull Husband by Thomas Rowlandson, 1789
• Agreeable Companions in a Post Chaise by Thomas Rowlandson, 1789
• Studying Politics, or the Bon Companions, 1790
• Catch’d Napping by Isaac Cruikshank, 1794
• Little Sleeper by Martin Drölling, 1795
• A Nap after Dinner, 1796
• Soldiers attending divine service by Thomas Rowlandson, 1798
• Comforts of Bath: The Music Master by Thomas Rowlandson, 1798
• Caught Napping
• Night by Francis Wheatley, 1799
• Country Characters: Vicar by Thomas Rowlandson, 1799
• Three sportsmen sleeping at the table in their chairs by Thomas Rowlandson
• The drunken nurse by Thomas Rowlandson
• Two men asleep on a sofa by Thomas Rowlandson
• Progress of Drunkenness, c. 1800
• Desire, 1800