Romney

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

GEORGE, an English painter; born in Reckside, Lancashire, Dec. 26, 1734. He was the son of a carpenter, and at first worked at his father's trade, but he afterward was apprenticed to an itinerant artist named Steele, and at the age of 23 began the career of a painter. After a certain amount of local success he went to London in 1762, and next year won a prize offered by the Society of Art for a historical composition. He steadily rose in popularity, and was finally recognized as inferior only to Reynolds and Gainsborough as a portrait painter; some critics even placed him higher than either. His residence in London was interrupted by occasional visits to the Continent for purposes of study, and his most prosperous period dates from 1775, after his return from a visit of 18 months to Rome. Many distinguished Englishmen and many ladies of rank sat to him for their portraits; but perhaps the most beautiful of his sitters was Emma Hart, afterward Lady Hamilton, whom he depicted in very numerous character. He did not neglect neglect his torical or imaginative compositions, and he contributed several pictures to Boydell's famous Shakespeare gallery, founded in 1786. His health began to fail in 1797, and in 1799 he rejoined his wife (married in 1756), who throughout his whole London career had remained at Kendal. Romney displays a want of carefulness, and defective knowledge of anatomy in his historical compositions; but he atones for these faults by fine color, a subtle sense of beauty, and by Fine examples of his his originality. work command high prices. He died in Kendal, Nov. 15, 1802.