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Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case 91, Shelf C, Box 15

Sketchbook

Sketchbook
mid 1770s (made)
Artist/Maker
George Romney (artist)
Place of origin
Britain (made)

George Romney was a successful society portrait painter but his real interest was in literary and mythological themes. A prolific draughtsman, he made huge numbers of rapid sketches to record his ideas for compositions. For Romney, drawing was a way of capturing, even of generating, ideas. His sketch-books contained what his biographer called ‘hasty hints’ for future paintings – most of which, however, were never achieved.


Object details

Categories
Drawings
Designs
Object type
Sketchbook
TitleSketchbook
Materials and techniques
graphite, iron gall ink and indian ink
Graphite
Indian Ink
Drawn
Brief description
George Romney (1734-1802); sketchbook containing graphite and ink sketches of landscapes and of figures for portraits and compositions.
Physical description
sketchbook. 42 leaves of laid paper in pigskin binding fitted with a brass clasp.
Dimensions
  • Height height: 128mm (Closed)
  • Width: 200mm (closed)
  • Depth: 18mm (closed)
Open on cradle: W370 x D128 x H110mm
Object history
Purchased from Mr H.W. Underdown, 1926
Summary
George Romney was a successful society portrait painter but his real interest was in literary and mythological themes. A prolific draughtsman, he made huge numbers of rapid sketches to record his ideas for compositions. For Romney, drawing was a way of capturing, even of generating, ideas. His sketch-books contained what his biographer called ‘hasty hints’ for future paintings – most of which, however, were never achieved.
Bibliographic references
  • Owens, Susan, The Art of Drawing British Masters and Methods since 1600, V&A Publishing, London, 2013, p.55 and p. 65 , fig. 45
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1926, London: Board of Education, 1927.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.4-1926

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1051817/sketchbook-sketchbook-george-romney/
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