Artwork
Lady Elizabeth Hamilton (1753–1797), Countess of Derby
Lady Elizabeth Hamilton (1753–1797), Countess of Derby is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist George Romney. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as a representative likeness of an aristocratic sitter, consistent with Romney's portrait practice of the period.
The portrait depicts Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, who later became Countess of Derby, painted by George Romney in 1790. As a formal society portrait, the work presents her as the principal subject, rendered in oil on canvas. The painting belongs to the genre of portraiture, with Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Derby, identified as both the depicted figure and the main subject of the composition.
The work functions as a representative likeness of an aristocratic sitter, consistent with Romney's portrait practice of the period. Held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it serves as a visual record of Elizabeth Hamilton's appearance and social standing in late-eighteenth-century Britain, though the available sources do not detail specific symbolic attributes, costume elements, or iconographic motifs embedded in the composition.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1790, this portrait by George Romney is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 127 cm in height and 101.6 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the piece uses oil paint applied to a canvas support to depict Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Derby.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Derby, was executed by George Romney in oil on canvas around 1790, measuring 127 cm by 101.6 cm in the full-length aristocratic portrait style of the period. After its creation the painting passed into the ownership of the collector Jules Bache, who bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is presently held. The available documentation does not record a specific accession number or any exhibition history for the work.
Context
The 1790 portrait of Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, painted by George Romney, is an oil-on-canvas work measuring 127 cm by 101.6 cm. It was owned by Jules Bache and entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified as a portrait. As a representative example of Romney's output, the painting illustrates the prominence of aristocratic portraiture in late-eighteenth-century Britain and remains a key example of the artist's contribution to the genre.
Overview
George Romney's 1790 oil painting captures Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Derby. This portrait exemplifies the Neoclassical aesthetic prevalent in late 18th-century British art. The work is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and represents a significant example of Romney's contributions to the genre of portraiture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
George Romney (26 December 1734 – 15 November 1802) was an English painter. He was the most fashionable artist of his day, painting many leading society figures – including his artistic muse, Emma Hamilton, mistress of Lord Nelson.
![Portrait of Mrs. Champion de Crespigny [née Dorothy Scott], by George Romney](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/george-romney--portrait-of-mrs-champion-de-crespigny-nee-dorothy-scott--5b087b919e9b4de1-w320.webp)
