Mrs Johnstone and her Son (?)

15 dicembre 1734

Born

14 ottobre 1756

Married: Mary Abbot

1762

Leaves for London to seek his fortune

In March 1762 he parts from his wife, son and daughter to seek his fortune in London; his early years in the capital are a financial struggle. Apart from a few visits to Cumbria he stays there until 1799, supporting his family from afar, though they never live with him in the capital.

1769

Exhibits the portrait of Sir George Warren and family

His large portrait of Sir George Warren and family, shown at the Free Society of Artists, is greatly admired and lays the foundations of his future popularity; 1769 proves a breakthrough year.

1782

Meets Emma Hart, later Emma Hamilton

In 1782 Romney is first introduced to Emma Hart (later Emma Hamilton), who becomes his muse: he paints more than 60 portraits of her, sometimes in the guise of historical or mythological figures. He also paints many other contemporaries, among them the fellow artist Mary Moser.

summer 1799

Returns to his wife Mary in Kendal

In summer 1799, his health broken, Romney returns to his wife Mary in Kendal after an absence of almost forty years. She nurses him through the last two years of his life; he is buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church, Dalton-in-Furness.