Artwork
Two Studies for a Portrait of the Warren Family
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.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by later hand, lower center in graphite: George Romney; by later hand, lower center in graphite: 28 x 34; by later hand, lower right in graphite: [Not deciphered]; by later hand, lower right in graphite: C3t[4?]
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.
![Study of a Mother and Child [verso]](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/david-wilkie--study-of-a-mother-and-child-verso--91f999f529326586-w320.webp)
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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.
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