Artwork

Two Studies for a Portrait of the Warren Family

Two Studies for a Portrait of the Warren Family, by George Romney, ink, 1768
Two Studies for a Portrait of the Warren Family, by George Romney, ink, 1768

Two Studies for a Portrait of the Warren Family is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist George Romney. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Two Studies for a Portrait of the Warren Family is a dual graphite and pen and brown ink drawing on wove paper, created by George Romney around 1768, featuring two compositional studies for a family portrait.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts two variations of the Warren family's pose: one with the woman seated beside the standing man, and another with both standing. The subjects are rendered in everyday attire, conveying a sense of informal intimacy.

Technique & Style

Romney employed quick, expressive lines in graphite and brown ink to capture the sitters' poses and facial expressions, characteristic of the emerging Romanticism movement's emphasis on emotion and individuality.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1768, the drawing's provenance details are not specified here, though its creation date situates it within Romney's active portrait career.

Context

This work reflects the late 18th-century shift towards Romanticism in art, where artists like Romney focused on capturing emotional depth and personal character in their subjects.

Artist & collection

Portrait of George Romney

Artist

George Romney

George Romney (1770–1773) was an artist.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.