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An Elegant Lady in Classical Dress [recto]

George Romney

1784

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

An Elegant Lady in Classical Dress [recto] is a 1784 ink by George Romney, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: George Romney
When & what style?: 1784 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a woman in classical dress, standing in front of a column. Her face is blank, and she wears a long, flowing robe with a cloak draped over her left shoulder. The background is a simple, unadorned space with a few lines suggesting a wall or curtain behind her. The woman's pose is relaxed, with her weight shifted onto her right leg and her left arm resting on the column. Her facial expression is neutral, giving no hint of emotion. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, as if the woman is lost in thought. The sketch is characteristic of the Romanticism movement, which emphasized emotion and imagination over realism. To learn more about this style, look up the Romanticism movement.