Mrs Johnstone and her Son (?) c. 1775 - 1780

Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the tenderness of this portrait. There’s such a gentle quality in the way she holds the child. Editor: Indeed. This is George Romney’s "Mrs Johnstone and her Son (?)", currently housed at Tate Britain. Romney, born in 1734, was a prominent portraitist, capturing the likenesses of many in British society. Curator: You know, it’s interesting how the pose seems so natural, almost fleeting, yet it's clearly a constructed image. The mother’s gaze, downward and inward, suggests a private moment made public. Editor: The “public” aspect is key. Portraiture of this era was deeply enmeshed with social status. It served to advertise and solidify social standing; the sitter’s virtue, wealth, and taste were carefully considered. Is this maternal devotion, or something more calculated? Curator: I suppose it's both. Aren't we all, in our own ways, performing roles? There is also the child's face, that look of pure innocence, as though he doesn’t know that it is a stage? I am moved by it anyway! Editor: Well said! It’s a complex piece, isn't it? A potent mix of personal emotion and social performance, captured by Romney's masterful brush. Curator: It is, yes. Art is about making people feel something, and, in this case, making us think!