George Romney by George Romney - Public domain portrait painting

Caption from the museum's website



This portrait was painted in 1784 when Romney was fifty and staying at Eartham, the home of his friend, the poet, William Hayley. He gave the painting to Hayley who said it successfully conveyed Romney's 'pensive vivacity and profusion of ideas.' In this unfinished self-portrait Romney's crossed arms and unflinching gaze reveal a watchful figure wrapped up in his own thoughts.