Mrs. Thomas Phipps 

George Romney painted this portrait of Mrs. Thomas Phipps during an era defined by strict social hierarchies and evolving gender roles. Portraits of women during this time often served to reinforce societal expectations of femininity, domesticity, and motherhood. Mrs. Phipps is adorned in elaborate lace, but her expression is far from passive. There is a sense of her individual presence, suggesting the complexities and nuances that lay beneath the surface of 18th-century societal expectations for women. Romney’s sensitivity captures something more than just social standing; it hints at the internal life of its sitter. Consider how the act of portraiture itself was a negotiation, a dance between the artist's vision, the sitter's identity, and the broader cultural narratives that shaped their world. How does seeing an artwork like this make you feel?