Lady Lemon c. mid to late 1780s

George Romney painted Lady Lemon with oil on canvas during his career as a sought-after portraitist. Look closely and you will see the smooth quality achieved by carefully layering thin glazes of paint, a hallmark of academic painting traditions. The canvas is almost completely filled by the sitter's dress, which is painted with a technique of subtle blending and broad brushstrokes. These techniques were taught in the Royal Academy and other schools and allowed artists to simulate the textures of luxurious textiles. A painting like this signifies a complex set of relationships. Romney was dependent on the patronage of figures like Lady Lemon, while she in turn was making a statement about her social standing through the display of her image and her fashionable dress. Considering this artwork through the lens of materiality, making, and social context allows a deeper understanding, challenging traditional views of art and craft.