Mrs. Davies Davenport 1782 - 1784

George Romney rendered this portrait of Mrs. Davies Davenport in oil, capturing the aesthetic ideals of his time. Observe the hat, adorned with a bow, a motif resonating with notions of courtship and societal decorum. The bow, an ancient symbol, appears in varied forms throughout history. From tying sacred bundles in ancient rituals to its use in heraldry, and now perched atop a lady's hat, the gesture of tying binds not only material but also ideas. The bow's connection to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, signals a potent undercurrent of desire and aesthetic attraction. The intentional display of bows and ribbons in portraiture suggests a play of flirtation and accessibility. Consider how the bow has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts, revealing a complex interplay of conscious and subconscious expressions of love, power, and beauty.