GEORGE ROMNEY (1734-1802)

30 May - 18 August 2002
Admission £6, Concessions £4
Rooms 16 - 20 (Top Floor)

Sponsored by The Pacific Group of Companies

Organised by the National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside, in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, London, and the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California .

George Romney (1734 - 1802) was one of the key figures in late eighteenth-century British art. He is best known as a portrait painter and, at the height of his career, was more fashionable than his rivals Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. Though he is most widely known for his society portraits, particularly those of Emma Hart, later Lady Hamilton and mistress of Admiral Lord Nelson, Romney was also an innovative artist with a passion for grand historical and literary compositions.

Marking the bi-centenary of Romney's death, this exhibition aims to end two centuries of neglect and misrepresentation and restore Romney to his rightful place of one of the eighteenth century's most popular and innovative artists. In the first comprehensive re-examination of Romney's oeuvre, the exhibition brings together around 100 paintings and drawings - 30 of which have not previously been on public display.

During the research for this exhibition a number of important works have been reattributed to Romney. Amongst these works is Mrs Margaret Ainslie (1764) reunited here with the portrait of her husband Dr James Ainslie (1765) for the first time since 1908. Several key works such as Thomas Rackett (1768) and Portrait of a Lady and Child (1770) have been located, in private ownership, for the exhibition. Other major paintings that are newly traced include The Indian Woman (1793) which, although well-known to Romney scholars, has never been shown before.

George Romney was born in Cumbria and made his reputation in the north-west by painting members of prominent Lakeland families. He moved to London and established himself as a rival to Reynolds when he painted The Leigh Family and The Warren Family in 1768-9. In 1773 he visited Italy, and, on his return to London in 1775, set up a studio in Cavendish Square where high society began to sit for him. The patronage of Lord Gower was key to Romney's approval in aristocratic circles and The Leveson Gower Children, 1776-7, is widely considered to be his masterpiece.

In the 1780s Romney was the fashionable choice of artist for many, including the actress Sarah Siddons. Following her recent success on the London stage, she commissioned a portrait from Romney. When he failed to complete the painting on time, Siddons approached his rival Reynolds - Romney cut up his portrait of Siddons and all that remains is the head which is included in the exhibition.

Like Reynolds, Romney loved the company of women and preferred to socialise in literary and intellectual circles, rather than with fellow artists. Some of his most vibrant pictures are of Emma Hart, later Lady Hamilton, who was his greatest source of inspiration and his muse. Of the countless portraits and sketches of Emma, the exhibition includes Study of Emma Hart as Circe, Emma as the Spinstress and Emma Hart in a Cavern.

The exhibition is curated by Alex Kidson, Curator of British Art at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. It will tour to the Huntington Art Collections, San Marino, USA from 15 September until 1 December 2002.

Publication
A fully-illustrated catalogue, written by Alex Kidson, accompanies the exhibition. 256 pages, 216 illustrations, 146 in colour, Price £40 (hardback) £25 (paperback). Published by the National Portrait Gallery.

Evening Lecture Series
A special series of evening talks in the Ondaatje Wing Lecture Theatre exploring aspects of Romney's life and work. Individual lectures £3/£2 (concessions). Tickets are available from the Gallery or by sending a s.a.e. to the Ticket Desk

Thursday 6 June 7pm £3/£2
George Romney: England's First Modern Artist?
Alex Kidson, Curator of British Art, Walker Art Gallery, and organiser of
the exhibition

Thursday 4 July 7pm £3/£2
George Romney: Our Dear Magician
David Cross, author of 'A Striking Likeness: The Life of George Romney'

Thursday 18 July 7pm £3/£2
Romney and Reynolds: Rivals and Reputations
Martin Postle, Senior Curator of British Art 1500-1780, Tate Britain

Thursday 1 August 7pm £3/£2
Romney and his engravers
David Alexander, Honorary Keeper of Prints, Fitzwilliam Museum, University
of Cambridge

National Portrait Gallery opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday: 10am - 6pm
Late Opening: Thursday, Friday: 10am - 9pm
Recorded information: 020 7312 2463
General information: 020 7306 0055
Website: www.npg.org.uk

For further press information please contact:
Hazel Sutherland, Press Office, National Portrait Gallery
Tel 020 7312 2452 Fax 020 7306 0058 email hsutherland@npg.org.uk

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All images and text are subject to copyright protection. 04 December 2008