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Lot Essay
Romney made numerous studies on the tender theme of mother and child. Some were evidently made primarily for his own purpose of working out variations on a composition, perhaps inspired by Raphael's Madonna della Sedia, Pitti Palace, Florence. Others were specifically made as preliminary studies for commissioned portraits such as Mrs Cardwine and son (circa 1775-6) and Mrs. Morris and son (circa 1777), illustrated respectively in D. Cross, A Striking Likeness: The Life of George Romney, Aldershot, 2000, fig. 40 and pl. XIII, illustrated in colour.
A comparison can also be made with a drawing recently exhibited at Agnew's, A. Wyld, Twenty-five Drawings by George Romney 1734-1802, June 2002, no. 8, illustrated in colour. This drawing has a similar dark background, possibly suggesting the proposed introduction of a landscape background.
When in Rome in 1773 Romney met Johann Heinrich Füssli (1741-1825) whose drawings exerted considerable influence on his own style. Back in London in 1775 Romney produced dynamic wash drawings that were innovative for the time and now form an important part of his oeuvre.
We are grateful to Alex Kidson of the Walker Art Gallery and to Dr Judy Egerton of the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art for their help in preparing this catalogue entry and for suggesting a date of circa 1776-7.
A comparison can also be made with a drawing recently exhibited at Agnew's, A. Wyld, Twenty-five Drawings by George Romney 1734-1802, June 2002, no. 8, illustrated in colour. This drawing has a similar dark background, possibly suggesting the proposed introduction of a landscape background.
When in Rome in 1773 Romney met Johann Heinrich Füssli (1741-1825) whose drawings exerted considerable influence on his own style. Back in London in 1775 Romney produced dynamic wash drawings that were innovative for the time and now form an important part of his oeuvre.
We are grateful to Alex Kidson of the Walker Art Gallery and to Dr Judy Egerton of the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art for their help in preparing this catalogue entry and for suggesting a date of circa 1776-7.