Sarah Ley, Mrs Richard Tickell (1770–after 1817) 1759

George Romney painted ‘Sarah Ley, Mrs Richard Tickell’ sometime between 1770 and 1817. Romney was a leading portraitist of the late 18th century, capturing the likenesses of London’s fashionable elite. The portrait presents Sarah Ley, wife of playwright Richard Tickell, embodying the era’s ideals of femininity and beauty. Her soft features, delicate skin, and elaborate attire reflect the societal expectations placed on women of her class. The painting offers insight into the performance of identity, where appearances were carefully constructed to convey status, virtue, and desirability. Romney, like many artists of his time, was deeply involved in constructing and perpetuating images of power and privilege. Yet, his portraits also reveal the subtle ways in which individuals like Sarah Ley navigated and negotiated their roles within a patriarchal society. This painting, with its emphasis on beauty and elegance, prompts us to consider the complex interplay between personal identity and social expectations.