Miss Vernon as Hebe 1777

George Romney painted Miss Vernon as Hebe, a mythological figure, in an unknown year. We see her gazing upwards, embodying the role of Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth and cupbearer to the gods. This upward gaze is not unique; consider countless religious paintings where saints and madonnas look towards the heavens, seeking divine inspiration. This pose, repeated through centuries, embodies a longing for something beyond our earthly realm. Yet, the eyes, as windows to the soul, are always subject to interpretation and the weight of history. We carry in our collective memory echoes of these earlier images, so Miss Vernon's look towards the heavens may not only mirror the goddess Hebe but also the countless figures that came before. This continuity of emotion is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The progression of symbols is not linear, but cyclical; and resurfaces and evolves as it is passed down through time.