Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
When was George Romney a pupil of Christopher Steele?
1 Answer

George Romney studied under Christopher Steel from 1755-1757. Romney then went on to become one of the most fashionable portrait artists of his day. You can shop a selection of George Romney’s pieces from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Related Questions
- Who is Christopher Guy?1 Answer
- How do I clean Georg Jensen stainless steel?1 Answer
- What type of artist is Christopher Wool?1 Answer
- What does a St. Christopher pendant mean?1 Answer
- Is stainless steel or surgical steel better?1 Answer
Shop for George Romney Art on 1stDibs
Portrait of Anne Evelyn - British 18thC Old master oil painting excellent prov.
By George Romney
Located in Hagley, England
This stunning British 18th century Old Master portrait oil painting, with exceptional provenance, is by noted artist George Romney. It was painted in 1788, commissioned by James Evelyn of Felbridge as it is of his younger daughter Anne, aged 20 years old. James was a Doctor of Law and Anne's mother was his second wife, Jane. Felbridge house, Anne's home, was in the village of Godstone in Surrey. This superb oil painting is a seated portrait of Anne, wearing a white dress with a green sash, her forearms exposed and her hands in her lap. Anne is blessed with the most wonderful long auburn curly hair and is visually stunning. Her body is partly turned away from the artist/viewer and she is slightly gazing down at us with confident, clear eyes. Anne is pictured in a landscape with a dramatic sky behind her. Romney's brushwork on her dress, hair and the background is superb. The delicate detailing of her facial features is also stunning. Sometimes Old Master portraits can be a little staid, but this one of Anne with her wild auburn hair and bold look is just magnificent. This is a fantastic example of George Romney's work and of an 18th century British Old Master with exceptional detailed provenance.
Name plate states: Anne, younger daughter of James Evelyn of Fellbridge Esq. 1788, aged 20. Romney.
Provenance. With Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson, 3rd Earl of Liverpool (1784-1851)
With The Hon. Henry Berkeley Portman (1860-1923),
Later 3rd Viscount Portman; with Emma, Viscountess Portman (1862-1929)
By 1926; with her daughter Lady Moyra Dawson-Damer (1897-1962)
Thence by family descent.
Painted in 1788. There are various labels verso.
Mentioned in Lord Hawkesbury's Catalogues of Portraits at Compton Place and at Buxted Park, in Sussex, 1903, p.18, no. 3, at Buxted Park, as in the 'Dining Room, South Wall'.
Further Bibliography: Gower (R. S.) Romney, London, 1904, p. 175 Kidson (Alex) George Romney, A Complete Catalogue of his Paintings, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2015, I, p. 205, no. 422 (illus).Ward (Humphrey) and Roberts (William) Romney: A Biographical and Critical Essay, London: T Agnew & Sons, 1904, p. 51
Condition. Oil on canvas. Image size 30 inches by 24 inches and in good condition.
Frame. Housed in an ornate gilt frame with name plate, 37 inches by 31 inches and in good condition.
George Romney (1734-1802) was born in Dalton-on-Furness, Lancashire, on 15 December 1734, the third of the eleven children of John Romney and Anne Simpson. Leaving school at the age of eleven, he worked for eight years in his father's cabinetmaking workshop before being apprenticed to a local painter, Christopher Steele, with whom he served for two years, from 1755 to 1757, in Kendal, York, and Lancaster. He married a Kendal girl, Mary Abbot...
Category
1780s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
$96,502 Sale Price
20% Off
Portrait of a Gentleman, traditionally identified as Edward Addison, Esq., 1780s
By George Romney
Located in Henley-on-Thames, England
George Romney (1734-1802)
Portrait of a Gentleman, traditionally identified as Edward Addison, Esq., c.1780s
Oil on canvas
In a period carved and gilded swept frame
76.3 x 63.2 cm.; ...
Category
1780s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
Portrait of Lady Caroline Price
By George Romney
Located in Miami, FL
DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be ...
Category
1970s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil, Canvas
Oil Painting by George Romney "Portraits of a Lady and Gentleman"
By George Romney
Located in Mere, GB
Oil Painting Pair circle of by George Romney "Portraits of a Lady and Gentleman" 1734 - 1802 Romney was a leadway society portrait painter of the Georgian ear...
Category
1780s Portrait Paintings
Materials
Oil
$6,593 Sale Price
28% Off
Portrait of Lady Anne Dutton, Oil on canvas, 18th English Century Painting
By George Romney
Located in London, GB
Oil on canvas, unsigned
Image size: 22 x 20 inches (22.75 x 51 cm)
Pierced gilt carved frame
Provenance
Commissioned by James Lenox Dutton (1713-1777)
Sherborne House, Dorset
Family descent
This half-length portrait shows the sitter with her head and eyes looking over her shoulder, to the right. She is dressed in a delicate blue dress and blue shawl with her hair tied up away from her face. The composition of the painting is simple but effective; the woman stands out and is the undeniable focus of the viewer's attention.
George Romney's artistic style is characterised by its focus on the beauty and elegance of human forms. Here, one can appreciate his ability to capture the delicacy of facial features and the soft textures of clothing. In addition, Romney has used a soft and diffuse brushstroke technique that creates a light and soft effect in the work. The dark and diffused background highlights the young woman's figure even more, creating an effect of depth and realism.
The sitter of this painting is likely Anne Dutton, the daughter of James Lenox Dutton and Jane Bond. Anne Dutton (1743-1821) was the 13 x great great granddaughter of King Edward III, and married politician Samuel Blackwell. Anne sat for portraits by Francis Cotes which bear a striking resemblance to this portrait, and her father was a known patron of Romney.
George Romney
Romney was a fashionable portrait painter of late 18th-century English society. In his portraits Romney avoided delving into the character or sensibilities of the sitter. His great success with his society patrons depended largely on just this ability for dispassionate flattery. Line rather than colour dominates; the flowing rhythms and easy poses of Roman classical sculpture underlie the smooth patterns of his compositions.
From 1755 to 1757 Romney was the pupil of Christopher Steele, an itinerant portrait and genre painter. Romney’s career began when he toured the northern English counties painting portraits for a few guineas each. In 1762 he went to London. His history painting The Death of General Wolfe won him an award from the Society of Arts; nonetheless he turned almost immediately to portrait painting. In 1764 he paid his first visit to Paris, where he was befriended by Joseph Vernet. Romney especially admired the work of Nicolas Le Sueur, whose use of the antique strongly appealed to him. In 1773 he went to Italy for two years, where he studied Raphael’s Stanze frescoes in Rome, Titian’s paintings...
Category
18th Century Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden
By George Romney
Located in New York, NY
Pen and ink drawing on laid paper by British Master George Romney.
The expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, circa 1770
The Royal Academy in London has a collection of pen and ink drawings on laid paper by George Romney which appear to be from the same period.
This is double sided work which causes a shadow on the front.
Provenance:
Collection of Alfred de Pass
The Truro Museum, Cornwall, England
Christopher Powney, London
Private Collection, CT
Christopher Powney of Berwick Fine Art, dated 25 August
1967, authenticated this work. The original letter is included on back of the framed work. Christopher Powney was a London fine art dealer known for his expertise in British Drawings. He is recognized by the British Museum as a London art dealer...
Category
Early 1800s Old Masters Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
Materials
Pen, Laid Paper, Ink


