George Romney

One of the most celebrated portrait painters of his time, George Romney built a reputation with his graceful and expressive depictions of British high society during the late 18th century. Born in 1734 in Dalton-in-Furness, Lancashire, Romney apprenticed under the local artist Christopher Steele in 1755. In 1757 he left the apprenticeship to set up his own studio in Kendal.

George Romney began to build up a name for his portraits of the local gentry. However, his heart was set on London, where he moved to in 1762. In London, Romney earned the patronage of the British elite, especially popular amongst women of high society. His reputation rivalled that of Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. Romney’s style was marked by a keen observation of character, which he combined with a refined elegance in composition and colour.

In 1872 George Romney met Emma Hamilton, who would become one of the artist’s greatest muses. Romney was drawn to her unique beauty that combined the statuesque features of ancient Greek sculpture with the Rubenesque quality of her luscious chestnut hair. Between 1782 and 1786, Hamilton sat for Romney over 100 times, over 60 paintings with Hamilton as their inspiration or defining feature throughout their relationship. Romney painted Hamilton in four main categories: real-life compositions, single-figure personified allegories, mythological or religious subjects.

Romney’s oeuvre also includes numerous drawings, many of which served as studies for his larger works. These George Romney drawings reveal his meticulous approach to composition and his exploration of different poses and expressions, providing insight into his creative process. His drawings are noted for their fluidity and the artist’s ability to convey a likeness with minimal lines.

In 1799 Romney returned to Kendal and the family that he had left behind in pursuit of a career in London until his death in 1802. His impressive oeuvre encompasses some 2,000 paintings and 5,000 drawings, housed in private and public collections across the world, including the National Portrait Gallery in London.