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.
English Georgian Oil Painting Portrait of Man in Red Coat, 36x30"
By George Romney
Located in Queens, NY
English Georgian gilt framed oil painting portrait of man in red coat with vest (att: Geo. Romney)
Paint
Portrait of a Handsome Man Oil Painting by Mid Century Artist
Located in Palm Springs, CA
This beautiful mid century painting of a handsome man was painted in the 1950s. The subject was the owner of a beautiful San Diego Estate. Artist was F Stanley Herring. Beautiful antique fold leaf frame with ruby color fillet trim. Subject is seated in a royal blue chair...
Canvas
Vintage Boho Original Oil Portrait of Man
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Command attention in any room with this arresting vintage original oil portrait. The painting features a striking male figure, shirtless and rendered with skilled attention to anatom...
Canvas, Wood, Paint
$1,375
H 35.44 in W 29.93 in D 2.17 in
Antique Oil Painting Portrait of an Austrian Folksy Man, Vienna 1892
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Painting Portrait of an Austrian Folksy Man, Vienna 1892 This painting depicts the portrait of a 19th-century Viennese man in his traditional costume. Shown in a three-q...
Canvas, Wood, Paint
$4,497Sale Price|40% Off
H 39 in W 34 in D 4 in
English Titled 18th c Lady with Coat of Arms Portrait Oil Painting Gilt Frame
Located in Savannah, GA
18th century English noblewoman in a gold gilt ornate period frame. Lovely detail and color, coat of arms in corner. Unsigned. Without the frame the painting itself measures 29 inche...
Giltwood, Canvas
Group Of Four Georgian Framed Family Portrait Paintings
Located in Essex, MA
All members of the same family set in giltwood frames.
Canvas, Giltwood
$25,000
H 26 in W 22 in D 2 in
Pair of English Nobel Figural Man & Woman Oval Oil on Canvas Portraits, C 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English Nobel figural oil on canvas oval portraits of male posing with hunting canine companions and female sitting in garden posing with flowers and lamb. Paintings have bee...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Giltwood
Portrait of Man with Mustache Painting
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Portrait of man with mustache painting. - Oil on canvas - Unframed.
Canvas
$2,850 / set
H 32.5 in W 30 in D 1.5 in
Pair of Georgian English Portrait Paintings by Rev. Ben Hudson Dated 1828 & 1829
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A pair of Georgian English 19th century portraits of a gentleman and a woman, oil on canvas, original frame and stretcher, crackle paint (stable condition) typical of older paintings...
Paint
Portrait of a Man in Giltwood Frame
Located in Buchanan, MI
Artist unknown (American, 20th century) portrait of a man. Oil on canvas, signed lower left and dated 1943. Measures: 30" x 25" frame: 37.75" x 32.75". Excellent condition
Giltwood
Vintage Boho Signed Original Oil Portrait of Man
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Boho original oil portrait on board. A chic composition of a handsome shirtless man. Deep rich color dominate the piece. Acquired from...
Paint
Portrait in Oil of Man with Hat and Pipe
Located in Austin, TX
An arresting image of a bearded wise man with a rich and perhaps exotic story! An original signed oil on wood panel. Painted in the moody style of a Northern European portrait with exceptional technical articulation and expression. There is a clarity and realism about this piece. The man depicted appear to be in a contemplative mood, He wears a large brimmed hat...
Canvas, Paint
Tall Vintage Contemporary Portrait Painting of a Man in Bright Green
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall portrait painting of a boy on green. Painted by the late Oklahoma artist Clair Seglem, this small portrait painting is on board and dep...
Masonite, Paint, Paper