George Romney (painter)

George Romney ( * December 15 1734 in Dalton- in-Furness, Lancashire (now Cumbria ), † November 15, 1802 in Kendal ) was a British painter of the Rococo and Classicism.

Life

Romney was the son of cabinet maker ( cabinet-maker ) John Romney. The painter Peter Romney was his brother. The first artistic training Romney learned in his father's workshop in Kendal. At age 17, he became a pupil of Christopher Steele. At 22, he married 1756 in Kendal and founded in the same year his own studio.

Five years later, Romney went without his wife and two daughters to London. There he soon became known and appreciated. 1761 took Romney and his colleague Ozias Humphry a study tour of Italy and held 1773/75 in Rome. At the latest after his return in 1775 he was next to Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough as most prestigious artists. After his return he settled again in London. He lived from this time, the former home of the artist Francis Cotes.

In the years 1763 to 1772 Romney was able to show his works on various occasions. His picture The death of General Wolfe was honored by the Royal Academy of Arts. But the Free Society and the Society of Artists invited him to exhibitions.

1782 Romney got to know Emma Lyon, later Lady Hamilton. His numerous portraits of her are still known today. During this time he also created some contract work for the Shakespeare Gallery the art dealer John Boydell. In London also Romney's famous art collection was created. Much of the collection consisted of casts of antiquities from Rome, the sculptor John Flaxman had created for Romney.

In his last years, Romney suffered from depression and neurosis. With 65 years Romney stopped completely with the paint on, broke up his London home and returned as a very sick man to his family in Kendal back. At the age of 68 years, George Romney died on 15 November 1802 in Kendal.