Romney Close –  George Romney (1734-1802)

https://www.romney-society.org.uk/about-the-artist.html

George Romney was born in Dalton-in-Furness and was apprenticed to the portrait painter Christopher Steele; he broke his apprenticeship and set up on his own in a studio in Kendal in 1757. Building up a reputation as a portrait painter he moved to London in 1762, leaving his wife and two children behind, after which his entire career was London-based. He is famous for his portraits of society women. He was one of the most celebrated portrait painters of his time, along with Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough.  Reynolds was displeased by Romney’s fame and comparatively modest fees; Romney never submitted paintings to the new Royal Academy, of which Reynolds was president. Although he made his living painting portraits, he was enamoured with historical painting.  He met Emma Hart (later Lady Hamilton, Admiral Lord Nelson’s mistress) in 1782 and became obsessed with her. She appears in many of his portraits, some of which can be found in Kenwood House.