Portrait of Mrs William Maguire, seated, half-length, in a white dress and fichu, a landscape beyond

This elegant portrait was commissioned from the artist by the sitter’s husband on 8 February 1791 and painted over the course of six sittings between 15th February and 16th March, before it was completed and sent to Ireland in early May.

Mrs Maguire was from an Irish family and is thought to have been a mistress of the Duke of Abercorn. As noted by Alex Kidson, her London address is listed as 4 Hanover Street, the same as that for two other sitters of Romney's, Mr Chichester and Miss Fitzgerald, indicating that it was likely a hotel (op. cit.). Located on the east side of Hanover Square, the address was directly next to the Hanover Square Rooms, also known as the Queen’s Concert Rooms, which were established in 1774 and remained London’s principal concert venue for a century.