George Romney

half length, wearing a red coat and white stock

Possibly the Rev. John Romney (the artist's son);
Dr J.N. Haynes;
His sale, Christie's London, 13^th May 1899, lot 47 (bt. Agnew's);
Mrs Walter Hayes Burns of 69 Brook Street, London and North Mymms Park, Hertfordshire;
By descent to their daughter Mary Ethel Burns later Viscountess Harcourt;
By descent to the Hon. Olivia Vernon Harcourt;
Her sale Christie's London, 11^th June 2004, lot 27

H. Ward and W. Roberts, Romney, 1904, vol II, p. 134;
to be included in the forthcoming catalogue raissoné of George Romney by Alex Kidson

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in very good condition. ULTRAVIOLET Ultraviolet light reveals scattered areas of re-touching to the background of the picture. These are concentrated around the top of his wig as well as to his forehead. FRAME Held in a Carlo Maratta style frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Since it last appeared in public, conservation of this portrait has revealed it to be arguably the most striking and captivating of Romney's self-portraits. This image presents the viewer with a powerfully intimate moment with Romney as he catches and transfixes our gaze. This portrait dates from his arrival in London from Italy in 1775/6, and makes manifest his ambition both to capture attention and to advertise his professional abilities as a portrait painter. As his close friend William Hayley recalled, 'his features were broad and strong, his hair was dark, his eyes indicated much vigour, and still more acuteness of mind. His feelings were perilously acute.' [1]

Most importantly this portrait distinguishes Romney from his rivals Reynolds and Gainsborough. His direct and deliberate gaze to the viewer hints at the intimacy with which Romney conducted his portrait practise. Above all, Romney excelled in capturing the character of his sitters in a portrait with his spontaneous manner of handling paint. This meant that sittings might become virtuoso 'performances' as John Wesley recorded, "Mr. Romney is a painter indeed! He struck off an exact likeness at once, and did more in an hour than Sir Joshua did in ten."[2]

This portrait bears many characteristics which suggests a similar date to a self-portrait (now untraced) where he appears half-length wearing a wig and coat, and which is known only today through an engraving by William Thomas Fry dated 1822 after a drawing made by J. Jackson in 1817 'from an original Picture by himself in the Possession of his Son, the Revd John Romney.'[3] Both this and the present portrait appear to reflect Romney as recalled by Cumberland, 'his features were broad and strong, his hair was dark, his eyes indicated much vigour, and still more acuteness of mind. His feelings were perilously acute.' The vigour of his eyes in this portrait presents a more powerful image of the young Romney when compared to the more sombre and despondent gaze of his later self-portrait (National Gallery, London)

It has been suggested that the Dr. JN. Haynes who once owned this painting was a descendent of the engraver Joseph Haynes (1760-1829) who produced prints of several of Romney's paintings. Following his sale at Christie's in 1899, the portrait subsequently entered the collection of Mrs Walter Hayes nee Mary Morgan, sister of the financier J. Pierpoint Morgan.

[1] W. Hayley, Romney, 1809, pp. 300-01
[2] J. Wesley, Journal, 5 January 1789, as quoted in A. Kidson, George Romney, 2002, p. 26 ft. 98
[3] See the Romney sale, 24 May 1894, lot 183
[4] W. Hayley, lit.op.cit, 1809, pp. 300-01