George Romney is best known as one of British society’s foremost portrait painters of the 18th century, rivaling other widely acknowledged portraitists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds.
Born in 1734 in Dalton-on-Furness, Romney was the son of a cabinetmaker. In 1755, he began his artistic career as an apprentice to portrait painter Christopher Steele before traveling to northern England to establish a painting studio in Kendal. Romney’s talent in portraiture proved fruitful. By 1762, he had made enough money to set up a studio in London, where he became renowned for an “ability to paint flattering images regardless of personality.”
During the 1760s, Romney had hoped to become a history painter but was unsuccessful. To refine and improve his technique, he traveled to Rome in 1773, where he spent two years studying the Old Masters, including Titian, Correggio and Raphael. While there, he was also influenced by the works of Swiss painter Henry Fuseli.
Upon his return to London, in 1775, and with his newly honed painting style, Romney became even more popular among the British aristocracy and nobility. Although his primary aspiration was to make a living as a historical painter, Romney was in demand as a portraitist. His favorite subjects were children and women, particularly his muse, Emma Hart — who later became Lady Hamilton and mistress of Admiral Lord Nelson. Romney painted several Romantic portraits and drew many sketches of Lady Hamilton, whom he considered to represent the ideal of feminine beauty.
In his later years, Romney produced several portraits and drawings of Shakespearean subjects for John Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery in 1790.
Romney’s figurative works, portraits and prints are held in collections of numerous major museums and galleries, including the National Portrait Gallery in London, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Collection in New York. In 2002, an exhibition commemorating the bicentenary of Romney’s death was organized by the National Museums Liverpool in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery and the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Gardens in San Marino, California.
On 1stDibs, find a range of original George Romney drawings, paintings and prints.
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 ...
Oil, Canvas
$5,486
H 30.71 in W 25.6 in D 0.79 in
18th Century Oil on Canvas Portrait, Major Alexander Brown in Military Uniform.
By Sir David Wilkie
Located in Cotignac, FR
18th Century Military portrait of a young officer in Napoleonic period military dress. The painting is not signed but the subject is Major Alexander Brown. The work is oil on canvas later mounted on board and presented in a fine 'Regence style' carved gilt frame. There are labels to the back referring to the subject, 'Major Brown of Trinity' and a framers trade label from Edinburgh. A magnificent and imposing portrait of a young military officer in the prime of his life. His red uniform adorned with fine buttons, fringed epaulettes and high gilt collar. His ruddy complexion offset by his stylish hair, a quiff and swept forward to the sides as was the fashion at the time. Sir David Wilkie RA (18 November 1785 – 1 June 1841) was a Scottish painter, especially known for his portraits, including formal royal ones, and scenes from his travels to Europe and the Middle East. He painted successfully in a wide variety of genres, including historical scenes. His main base was in London, but he died and was buried at sea, off Gibraltar, returning from his first trip to the Middle East. He was sometimes known as the "people's painter". He was Principal Painter in Ordinary to King William IV and Queen Victoria. Apart from royal portraits, his best-known painting today is probably The Chelsea Pensioners Reading the Waterloo Dispatch of 1822 in Apsley House. Sir David Wilkie was actually admitted in 1799 (despite only being 14) through the influence of the Earl of Leven...
Canvas, Oil, Board
$20,329Sale Price|22% Off
H 37.8 in W 28.15 in D 1.97 in
17th Century by Giovanni Battista Beinaschi Saint Bartholomew Oil on Canvas
By Giovanni Battista Beinaschi
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Giovanni Battista Beinaschi (Fossano, Italy, 1636 - Naples, Italy, 1688) Title: Saint Bartholomew Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 9...
Canvas, Oil
$4,125Sale Price|44% Off
H 19 in W 14.25 in D 3 in
18th Century European Portrait of an Angel, Oil on Canvas
Located in SANTA FE, NM
18th Century European Portrait of an Angel, Oil on Canvas Unsigned 19 x 14 1/4 inches This lovely and sensitively painting has been examined by a professional restorer who was forme...
Canvas, Oil
$10,007Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.1 in W 24.41 in D 1.97 in
17th Century by Juan Alfonso Abril Head of St Paul Painting Oil on Canvas
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Juan Alfonso Abril (active in the 17th century in Valladolid, Spain) Title: Head of Saint Paul Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 48.5 x 62 ...
Canvas, Oil
$6,560
H 37.8 in W 30.71 in
17th-Century Flemish Oil - Saint Barbara, A Symbol of Protection and Resilience
Located in Aartselaar, BE
17th century Flemish School, Saint Barbara This accomplished 17th-century Flemish oil painting depicts Saint Barbara, shown as a serene and powerful woman dressed in a luminous red gown, set against a warm, atmospheric background and proudly holding her traditional attribute; a tower. The invention of the present composition stems from 17th century Antwerp and was likely drawn by Theodoor van Thulden...
Canvas, Oil
$8,349
H 23.94 in W 35.75 in D 5.91 in
19th Century Historical English Painting David Wilkie
By Sir David Wilkie
Located in Roma, IT
Sir David Wilkie RA (18 November 1785 – 1 June 1841) “The Parish Beadle” Oil on canvas Although unsigned, this beautiful painting is undoubtedly an original work by David Wilkye as...
Canvas, Oil
$15,915Sale Price|22% Off
H 29.53 in W 23.63 in D 1.97 in
18th Century by Pietro Bardellino Mary Magdalene Painting Oil on Canvas
By Pietro Bardellino
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Pietro Bardellino (Naples, Italy, 1731 – 1806) Title: Mary Magdalene Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 75 x 60 cm – with frame 97 x 82 cm Antique shaped and carved wood...
Canvas, Oil
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 36 in W 36 in
Answer Within, Oil on Canvas Painting, Old Masters Style, 21st Century
By Emmanuel Ojebola
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Painting Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, this is not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery)
Oil, Canvas
$5,360
H 19.89 in W 15.95 in D 1.97 in
18th Century Italian Portrait Credited to Maria Giovanna Battista Clementi
Located in Roma, IT
18th Century Italian Portrait Credited to Maria Giovanna Battista Clementi The painting probably depicts a young nobleman of Savoy court ...
Oil, Canvas
$79,489Sale Price|20% Off
H 22.84 in W 17.01 in D 2.37 in
17th Century Antiveduto Gramatica Magdalene Praying with a Skull Oil on Canvas
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Antiveduto Gramatica or Grammatica (Rome, Italy, 1571 – 1626) Title: Magdalene Praying with a Skull Medium:Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 58 x 43.2 cm - with frame 85 x 72 x...
Canvas, Oil
$19,060Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.15 in W 12.6 in
16th Century by Bernardino Detti Face of Christ Oil on Canvas
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Bernardino Detti (Pistoia, Italy, 1498 - 1572) Title: Face of Christ Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 41 x 32 cm - with frame 47 x 55.5 cm Antique box frame made of solid wood and walnut burl Not signed Publications: unpublished The painting by Bernardino Detti (1498 - 1572) depicts the face of Jesus...
Canvas, Oil
$53,608
H 14.97 in W 18.9 in
Luca Giordano, The Judgement of Solomon, Important Baroque Oil Sketch
Located in Paris, Île-de-France
Luca GIORDANO (Naples 1634 – 1705) The Judgement of Solomon, circa 1670 Oil on canvas 38 × 48 cm - Unsigned Collection stamp on the reverse depicting a Roman intaglio. The same ma...
Canvas, Oil